The lady of New Orleans : a novel of the present

THE

NEW ORLEANS

MARCELLU5 E.THORHTON

*

STEPHEN B. WEEKS

CLASS OF 1886; PH.D. THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

IJBBAKtf

OF THE

UMVERSFIIY OF MMfflH CARDUNA
TIE WEEKS COLLECTTON

C 8 li-TsiL.

UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL

00017475297

This BOOK may be kept out TWO WEEKS
ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE
CENTS a day thereafter. It was taken out on
the day indicated below:

Libra

Lib. lOM-Fe '38

THE

LADY OF NEW ORLEANS

A NOVEL OF THE PRESENT

BY

MARCELLUS EUGENE THORNTON

THE

Hbbey press

TLonoon

PUBLISHERS
114
FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK

/ft cntre.nl

Copyright, 1901,

by

THE

Bbbes Press

FEW TO WHOM I WOULD
AND LESS TO WHOM I WILL, I

Dedicate

THIS BOOK TO

HYWEL DA VIES;

A COAL OPERATOR OF COOL, CALCULATING ASPIRATIONS,

BUT WITHAL A LOVER OF

LITERATURE AND MUSIC,

EVEN THOUGH THE LATTER BE AN EISTEDDFOD.

MARCELLUS.

0

PREFACE.

I read, since this work has been in the hands of the Publishers,
30ut a gentleman of professional avocation in a certain northern
:ate of the United States, who is well-to-do in the world, of pol-
hed manners and high social distinction, in whom there is appar-
ltly not a trace of taint or admixture in his blood, who, to his
•edit, informed a lady of high-born lineage and distinguished in
>ciety in her city of residence for her beauty and attainments, to
horn he was engaged to be married, that his blood was tainted ;
lat one of his ancestors, though remote, was a negro.

Their mutual happiness in each other was blighted forever,
wo yearning hearts were sundered. The lady canceled their
strothal.

The anguish entailed, though silent, for there were no re-
roaches, must have been intense. I should like to have fathomed

This work is a sample of the other side, recounting the heart-
urnings of a woman under like dire misfortune. It may be said
lat Rittea de Ampbert should have been portrayed as being
Durted and feted and as repulsing all the men. But I differ,
he was made as she is because she was just that way.

The Lady of New Orleans is presented as a "first offering.
i this business, as in all others, one must needs have a begin -
ing. Had I followed the injunction of the timid old lady to her
aughter to hang her clothes on a hickory limb when she wanted
) learn to swim, I would not have been in this water floundering
ad never so weakly swimming.

Marcellus E. Thornton.

INTRODUCTION.

As a foreword to " The Lady of New Orleans," the author
thereof submits the following :

Americans are in the midst of that period in their national ex-
istence wherein individuals, led by the government, are seeking
fortunes in wealth and are blind to all other matters save dollars
and cents. In fact, in the period of acquisition of wealth, the
period wherein fabulous wealth suddenly drops into the laps of the
poor as well as into the coffers of the rich, like copious rains on
their gardens, there is no over-wrought imagination that has pic-
tured the sudden, the unlooked-for, yea unsought, acquisition of
fabulous and untold millions of riches by people in America.
They are facts. This theme is cleverly and practically dealt with
in " The Lady of New Orleans." The laboring man gains riches
and he in turn becomes a boss.

But, are the people of to-day at the fruition of happiness? Are
the women as happy as those whose siestas were lulled by music
on the hanging gardens of Babylon? A joy of the past is not a
joy for the present, only as an incentive, a lever to ambition.

When America arrives at the period when high ideas and ideals
will prevail and predominate, which they will do as surely and in-
evitably as they did in the Assyrian empire, Carthage, Greece or
Rome, but only to that limited degree to which their enlighten-
ment and intelligence admitted, it is to be hoped that such ely-
sium will not be engulfed by the weight of their own folly as were
those peoples'.

Imagine, or, see for a fact, my lady of culture and refinement,
with wealth at her command, being called upon to appease the
hunger of a neighbor. Would such a condition be in consonance
with a life that was blissful? But, even a stronger case in point
is discerned when my lady's daughter elopes with the African as-
sistant to the florist gardener, or, when her son and only heir

5'

6 Introduction.

weds with the maid, be she black or foreign, what does society
say?

When this, natural, some one may say, but still repugnant, or-
der of affairs in society shall have passed away in America and be
a legend of the past, when literature, music, art, science, yea,
learning, even common sense, shall be the ruling order of the times
among the people of America, then the foremost nation of the
world; that were the period when the present immigrant-mixed,
typeless and untypifiable American, and it were well to admit that
at present there is no type, having passed through the ordeal and
by intermarriage among the purest-blooded of its own people will
be developed into a type of enlightened, civilized people far above
and beyond any people who ever lived on earth. Such a race of
people will be distinctly American. They are coming ; the present
American is forceful, individually and collectively. He will force
the coming. American energy and money is being expended to
that end.

But the acme will be reached when every one's lawn is a fete
champctre, where every one who will may enter, and be a party
and listen to the rapturous strains of the voice of Nature given
forth in wave sounds from samosins and mandolins supported in
symphony by grand brass bands in the background.

Every person should, and no doubt does, wish himself in a con-
dition to dispense such hospitality to such a people. The return
of such calls would be such a joy to a man's mind and soul that he
would wish the world to have no end, till he were done. If such a
time is not coming why are so many people piling up millions upon
millions? What good will it do to their children's great-grand
children ?

American civilization has been incongruous from the very
nature of the circumstances surrounding it, and of which it has
been a vital part. Immigration and the consequent mixing of
blood, to which must be added the commingling of habits, customs
and manners of poor people in a virgin world, has absolutely hin-
dered and prevented the crystallization of a solid, substantial and
distinct civilization within a length of time so short. But these
same forces working to a common end, a period when the people
will have the wealth to gratify their intelligent tastes and desires,
a wealth descended from their strenuously over-wrought fore-
fathers, will ultimately transcend any civilization that has ever ex-
isted. In fact, America, though now in chaotic embryo, a swad-

Introduction. 7

dling of one hundred and fifty years, is farther advanced in every-
thing pertaining to human happiness and peaceful lives than any
other nation of a life of over four thousand years.

Therefore to the lovers of the beautiful, those who contemplate
life in an optimistic way " The Lady of New Orleans " will
perhaps give pleasure and convey food for thought.

The Author.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Shadow In The Path 1 1

II. Gets The Jew Out Of Trouble 17

III. Meets The Charmer And Misses Being Shot 22

IV. Meets Delarue. Is Kidnapped 28

V. The Dago Takes A Tumble 34

VI. Kidnapped This Time 42

VII. Stop Der Ship 47

VIII. A Cheap Tract Of Land 52

IX. Dalgal, The Ureamomaniac 59

X. Alpha And Bertha At Pilot Town 62

XI. Roomed Together 67

XII. In The Same Cabin Room 72

XIII. What Happened to Millyard 77

XIV. Dalgal's Engagement Dream 82

XV. Villeguini Bribing Delarue 86

XVI. Ralph The Reporter Got The Facts 93

XVII. Key To The Ills That Beset 97

XVIII. Sam Waxelbaum Throttled 100

XIX. Millyard Meets The Lady 104

XX. Millyard As A Courteous Courtier m

XXI. They Plighted Their Troth 121

XXII. Miss deAmpbert Describes Millyard I28

XXIII. Millyard's First Practical Lesson '35

XXIV. Villeguini Brought To Terms '41

XXV. That Awful Bar-Sinister,— Race J47

XXVI. From Beggar To French Opera * 51

XXVII. Preparing For The Wedding J56

XXVIII. Awful Tragedy Averted l65

XXIX. Extraordinary Discovery l72

XXX. Richest Mines In The World *77

9

J

io Contents.

CHAPTER PAGE

XXXI. The Dark Question Of America 182

XXXII. Mystery Of Marquand 188

XXXIII. Awful Revelation 193

XXXIV. Down In North Carolina 200

XXXV. Hiddenite Diamond Mines 205

XXXVI. When The Spark Was Started 211

XXXVII. How The Gems Are Found 216

XXXVIII. Retrospectively Introspective 221

XXXIX. Millyard Gets A Dividend 229

XL. A Life-Eating Canker 238

XLI. How The Gem Was Formed 246

XLII. Jerushi Turns Up 251

XLIII. That Awful Terrible Crime 257

XLIV. The Curse Of The Republic 268

XLV. Grand Bonanza Sold 272

XLVI. Plans For The Future 271

XLVII. Blowing Rock On Grandfather Mountain 282

XLVIII. The Lady Of New Orleans 288

XLIX. The Sting That Stings 294

L. Lawyers Entering Their Wedges 3°°

LI. A Wail In The World 3°5

LII. A Brilliant Mind's Vagaries 3IQ

LIII. De Larue Humoring Millyard 3r4

LIV. End To Which We Come 321

THE LADY OF NEW ORLEANS.

CHAPTER I.

THE SHADOW IN THE PATH.

" Come with me, young man, you're wanted," said the officer.

A detective of the police department of New Orleans had taken
a young man by the name of Alpha Millyard by the arm and was
conducting him to the central police station. It was late one after-
noon at a period not many years subsequent to the termination of
the civil war.

Alpha Millyard was a young lawyer, having been admitted to
the bar as a lawyer in October, 1867, when he was only nineteen
years, one month and fifteen days old.

He had practised some at his profession in two or three other
states before locating in New Orleans. He was reared in Atlanta,
where his mother and his sister, who was younger, still resided.

He had been in New Orleans about fifteen months and, as may
well be inferred by his having been admitted to the bar to plead
and practise as an attorney and counselor-at-law when only nine-
teen years of age, where the statutes provided that before being
admitted applicants shall be twenty-one years of age, he possessed
the acumen necessary to acquire a fair portion of clients in the fif-
teen months he was there.

However, it must be conceded that he was not extensively ac-
quainted; nor did he possess the faculty of becoming acquainted,
only with those who sought his acquaintanceship.

By those who knew him he was regarded as a brilliant lawyer.

The detective lodged Millyard in a special cell ; one that con-
tained a bunk. He asked to know the charge against him, but the
officer was ignorant, or refused to give the information.

11

12 The Lady of New Orleans.

Millyard began then to think of the matter seriously. He could
bring to mind no circumstance whatever that would justify his ar-
rest, especially without a warrant.

Soon after dark, when the gas-lights were burning, a detective
presented himself at the cell door and asked in a quick, imperious
manner :

" What have you done with that young lady? "

" What young lady? " demanded Millyard.

' The one you took from Poydras market this morning."

' I never took a young lady from Poydras market this morn-
ing," vehemently shouted Millyard, as he jumped from the bunk
and rushed to the cell door.

"Stiff, are you? That's all right." So saying the officer
walked away.

Millyard was never so impulsive before ; but never before had
he so much cause to be incensed. The opening to him of the cause
of his arrest and summary incarceration was so foreign to his
high-bred culture and disposition that it forced an undue exhibi-
tion of the primitive spirit of man on his part. Under these cir-
cumstances Alpha resumed his bunk and was moaning loudly and
quite unnecessarily.

" Great Caesar ! Grant ! or iny ither mon ! hevn't ye not a pint er
sinse? How'm I ter kape up wid yer? You broke ther rig'ler
drill an' now yer indeaverin' ter brake me slape."

'Who is that individual thus addressing me?" inquired Mill-
yard of a passing sentry.

" A red-headed gentleman of Jewish and Irish extraction on
the other side of the avenue," replied one of the few Irishmen on
the police force of New Orleans as he passed the cell door.

" Make him acquainted with me," said Millyard.

" I don't know yer names, but this is Mister and this is Mister,"
said the policeman, as the two men viewed each other across the
" avenue."

" What is the nature of your complaint? " asked Millyard.

"Yer git over 'em quicker'n any mon I iver saw." said the so-
called Hebrew. " I thot yer had the jam jims and willie warns.
You moaned and gnashed yer teeth like yer had ther Portia
money."

' I do not understand your lingo, sir," responded Millyard.

"What's yer ailment? The charge agin yer?" returned the
Irishman.

The Shadow in the Path. 13

" I have not seen the warrant for my arrest ; nor am I advised of
the nature of the charge against me," replied Millyard. ' There
was an officer here a minute or two ago who asked me what I had
done with a young lady in Poydras market this morning. As I
know nothing about it I suspect she must be your sister."

" Now you're talkin'. I have no sister, but I know a good feller
who's got' one. She's a pardner wid a druggist and knows more
'bout the business'n he does. What line? "

" I do not understand you," retorted Millyard.

" What'er you in this prison fur? "

" If I know, nothing."

" That's like me. I'm in here fur nothin' too."

" But you know the charge against you ? "

" They say I made free'n azy at the club'n smashed a glass."

" I hope, my friend-in-trouble, you will come out of it all right.
If I was out of here, as I am a lawyer I would defend you for the
fun of the thing."

" Now that's clever. Suppose you do if anyhow ? "

" Before you are called out in the morning tell me about your

case."

To this the Jew-Irishman assented.

Alpha Millyard awoke just as the performances at the Bidwell's
and St. Charles street theaters, which were near, were closing.

When the chief of the detectives returned from the theater he
sent an officer for Mr. Millyard.

" What have you done with that young lady ? " asked the chief
of detectives in his office downstairs, looking Millyard full in the
eyes.

"Done with a young lady? Sir, your language is insulting,"
replied Millyard, calmly, but deliberately and defiantly. " I do not
know what you are talking about, nor do I know anything about
any young lady to whom you can refer. This is an outrage upon
my personal liberty, sir, and you know it."

" You were in Poydras street market this morning before sun-
rise?" queried the officer.

Mr. Millyard admitted that he was, but denied the accusation
following ; that he met a young lady in the market and walked out-
side with her.

" Didn't you hold a hurried whispered conversation with a lady
about half-way in the market, the large, handsome, brown-eyed
girl with a red shawl on her arm and a red rose on her bosom ? "

14 The Lady of New Orleans.

" I don't remember seeing any such lady as you describe."

Then the chief questioned him at considerable length, asking
among other things the names of the ladies whom he saw in the
Poydras market that morning. To this Millyard replied that he
saw Miss Fisher, Miss Welker, Miss Caloe, Miss Dalmar and Miss
Benjamin.

" You have not yet mentioned the name of the right one," said
the chief. " Probably you are withholding her name purposely? "

Mr. Millyard responded that those were the only ones he saw in
the market with whom he was acquainted, but if there was another
one he had failed to remember and if her name was mentioned, he
would tell.

" How about Miss Saloshin ? "

" I do not know a lady of that name."

" Did you see Miss Marquand? "

" Marquand? No ; I do not recall the name."

" Letetia Marquand? " the chief persisted.

" Letetia? I have heard that name. I think a woman who is
called Letetia was in the market."

" Sergeant, take this young gentleman back to the cell," com-
manded the chief, sternly. " I think he knows enough to be able
to tell us something by morning." Mr. Millyard was conducted
back from whence he came.

The sensations permeating his brain were not pleasant. It was
indeed a strange experience for a young gentleman of good char-
acter and integrity. He paced the prison cell and reflected, while
the noise from the feet of passing people grew less and less in
frequency as the night advanced. The whole past in all his life
rolled up before him as it were in one grand panoramic picture.

Finding nothing in his conduct that warranted arrest, much less
incarceration, and supposing from what had been said by the de-
tectives that he was suspected of kidnapping a female, or, of in-
ducing one to leave her home, either one of which was an offense
repugnant to Alpha Millyard's manly instincts, anger began sup-
planting the plaintive wail of innocence.

" Young man, you better own up and tell where that girl is,"
spoke a sentry passing Millyard's cell door. ' The father of the
girl is in the chief's office. He wants to know if you will tell
where his daughter can be found."

" Who is he, and who is his daughter ? Does he lodge a formal
charge against me ? " asked Millyard.

The Shadow in the Path. 15

" No ; not yet. He says he will take a warrant if you do not
agree to tell the chief where he can find the lady."

" Give him my compliments and tell him I do not know him, nor
do I know his daughter ; and if I knew such a woman I would re-
nounce her acquaintance." The officer departed.

Mr. Millyard was left alone with his thoughts during fifteen
minutes cr more when a sergeant of police appeared at the iron
hars and opening the door commanded him to come with him to
the office.

" This is the gentleman whose daughter you spirited away from
Poydras market this morning," said the chief, pointing to a little
dapper, weazened Polak, or Polish Hebrew seated near the chief.
" He says if you will tell where his daughter can be found he is
willing for you to be released."

' Who is this person that makes such a slanderous charge
against me? I know him not." Alpha Millyard had straightened
himself to his full five feet ten inches, and his fierce glance awed
the cringing Polak.

" You said you knew Mr. Millyard," remarked the chief to the
Polak.

" He no know me," replied the Polak, timidly. " Dosh vos all
right. But me dosh know him. I know him ven I sees 'im. I
see 'im many dimes. He vos near mine 'ouse. He haf 'is vatch
shain vixed. He vos der very mon vot dey say took avay mine
Bertah. He took her avay frum der Boydras streedt markit dis
very mornins. Dose people vot saw 'im say so. Dey vos know
vot dey vos dalkin' "bout."

" What is your name?" demanded Mr. Millyard.

" Dot vos my pisniss, undt it vos none uf yours."

" Mr. Chief," said Millyard, " I appeal to you. On what charge
am I held here in prison?"

" Mr. Rosenstin." said the chief, puffing a curling circle of cigar
smoke from his lips, " do you make a charge against this man? "

" You all dos know how it vos petter'n I dos. I know vot you
all dells me," replied the Polak.

" I want to warn you, chief," said Millyard, " I am entirely in-
nocent in this affair and shall hold each and every man engaged
against me to a strict accounting. I demand to see the warrant, or
to know the charge, and if there is none, that I be given my free-
dom."

" What do you say ? " said the chief, addressing the Polak.

16 The Lady of New Orleans.

" I vants mine daughter, Mister Chief," he answered.

" Certainly ! " exclaimed the chief. " Do you make a charge
against Mr. Millyard of taking her away and keeping her away
from you ? "

" Ef dot vos der vay ter get 'er I dos, yes, sir."

" All right," said the chief. " Sergeant, take Mr. Millyard back
to the cell"

" Mr. Meelyard, vont you dells me, bleese, vere vos mine
daughter, Bertah?" beseechingly implored the Polak with out-
stretched hands as Mr. Millyard walked to the door.

" Sir, I am not your daughter's keeper," answered Millyard
throwing his head back. " I don't know her. If your daughter
has left your home, the fault is yours, or hers, not mine. Ser-
geant, please conduct me to my cell."

Gets the Jew out of Trouble. 17

CHAPTER II.

GETS THE JEW OUT OF TROUBLE.

Mr. Millyard's thoughts were now directed to a recollection of
the names of the female persons whom he saw in the Poydras
street market that morning.

He remembered all about rising early at his boarding-house up-
town and starting out to visit the French market for a cup of
French coffee, and the early morning walk. Instead of going
there, however, he halted when passing and turned into the Poy-
dras street market.

He finally reflected that he did pass a handsome young woman
in the market whom he met for the first time at Sam Waxel-
baum's the night before. He did not know her name, only Bertha.
It may be possible that she was this Polak's daughter, and her
name Bertha instead of Bertah, or Berter.

Arguing the case with himself he recognized that it would be
difficult to procure bail, because on such a charge the presumption
would be strong against him. At least he decided not to attempt
it. Nor would he write or telegraph to his mother or sister.
They were too gentle and tender. It would unstring their
nerves.

There was another one, a lovely woman at Hickory, in North
Carolina, got there through two or three migrations, whom he de-
sired not to know of his being charged with such an offense. She
was his affianced.

Sleep having failed him he sat on the edge of the bunk think-
ing thus of the ills that beset him while gazing through the iron
bars high up at the white cornice and coping of the large build-
ing across the street, and at the stars.

Finally, just before daylight there was a noise at his cell door.
Soon the door was unlocked.

" Young man, you can go," said the turnkey.
2

1 8 The Lady of New Orleans.

"Why so abruptly this early?" inquired Millyard.

" I have orders to turn you out. That's all I know."

Millyard was so much elated he never thought of inquiring
about the young lady. He emerged on the street a new man, a dif-
ferent man because of the new trend of thought, and walked up
St. Charles street toward his boarding-house, which was with a
private family, a Mr. Frank, his collaborator on a work of some
note, which was in blank verse. Streaks of light glinted from the
east as he neared his domicile. The sun would soon show its
face. He waited for it before entering.

" See here, Millyard," said his long-headed, long-bearded,
shaggy-haired German friend at the breakfast table, " there is
something serious in your case. Yovt are not at the end of
it."

" I am afraid your diagnosis is correct," replied Millyard.
" Being arrested on such a charge, though I must admit I do not
know the charge, only as I tell you that I was requested to inform
where the young woman is to be found whom I am charged with
taking clandestinely from Poydras market yesterday morning, but
of whom I know absolutely nothing, is humiliating. As I never
abducted a young woman, I could not disclose her whereabouts.
It is awful ! I do not know what to do, or what I can do. The
more I stir it and fuss about it the worse it will be for me."

Remembering about the Hebrew-Irishman, Mr. Millyard re-
paired to the Recorder's court to defend him. The young man
explained that his name was Miles Jerushi. That his father was
a Hebrew, and that his mother was an Irish lady.

" You see." said he. " thev're incompatible; they don't same to
agree togither. When they agrae they same to git along the
worst. The old mon. he drinks, an' I drink, an' you see my
mither, she kapes ferninst the percession. On these occasions they
both axe me ter lave the domicile for a period so as not to disturb
the equilabraum. On this occasion I jagged off to the club. It's
on the back uv the levva.

" When Jack Binster got into a hittin' argumint wid Lum Lester>
the boss of the shebang, I took 'is part. I told the spook ef 'e didn't
let up on Jack I'd smash 'is mirror. He thought I meant 'is face.
But bless your soul and mine, too, I wasn't thinkin' uv smashin'
'is face ; Jack could do that. I meant the glass, the lookin'-glass
mirror, the one that restid on the sideboard at the end of the
counter. Then he fetched such a suddint jerk wid 'is left that it

Gets the Jew out of Trouble. 19

precipitatid me tile. I grabbed meself togeder an' exclamatorily
said, ' You ole snoozer! ' Before I could say ' What de r mane? '
he plunked the other agin me shoulder as I braced it off wid me
lift. I grabbed de mirror wid me right. As he come at me the
tribble time I smashed de mirror over 'is cranaum an' rung de
frame roun' 'is neck, sorter 'Lizabeth style. Den I jist give it a
few nimble twists wid me dexter fer 'is furder edification. Now
I guess whut 'e's got me up fur is ter make me pay fur de mirrer.
See?"

" A case like that could not be brought in this court," said
Millyard when his client had concluded. " I guess you are
charged with fighting or disturbing the peace ; I will see. Who are
your witnesses ? "

" Jack Binster ; he'll be out there 'n the audience."

The case was called : " Miles Jerushi ; disorderly and fight-
ing."

The evidence showed the case to be about as Miles Jerushi had
so glibly but unintelligibly explained to Mr. Millyard. Mr. Miles
Jerushi was, however, discharged.

" You are the top uv a lawyer ! " exclaimed Miles when he got
outside of the court-room with Mr. Millyard. " I knew frum the
cut er yer jib you was a good 'un. This is the first time I iver
got clear when they've had me up. Ef you hadn't helped me out
they'd sint me up fer tin days. What km I do fer ye? I've no
mon. But I'll do anything you want."

" I can't say just now," replied Millyard. " Come to my office
on Carondelet street and see."

About two or three days later Millyard met on Camp, near Canal
street, the detective who arrested him. They were about to pass
each other without salutation, but simultaneous glances induced a
mutual halt.

"Have you heard anything from that young lady?" asked
the detective.

" I have not," replied Millyard. " What is her name? "

" Rosenstin, Bertha Rosenstin," replied the officer.

" What about her? " inquired Millyard.

" I understand she went to St. Louis. Her father is a jeweler
on Poydras street."

" Is he worth anything? " asked Millyard.

" He owns the jewelry store and the building. He lives over
the store, and he owns a fine house and lot up in Carrollton. The

20 The Lady of New Orleans.

girl has come from St. Louis. I understand she is on
Magazine street, somewhere beyond the Magazine market."

" Can you tell me how it came that I was arrested and im-
prisoned ? "

" Rosenstin and Sam Waxelbaum said you induced the girl to
go with you. There's another feller got a hand in it."

"Tell me about it, can't you?" asked Millyard.

" I have told you all that I am privileged to tell you," he replied,
striding off down the street.

Alpha Millyard did not suspect that the wily detective was lur-
ing him to see if he would seek the woman.

Although reared in a qui si city Mr. Millyard was comparatively
inexperienced in the ways of the people of the world. The civil
war had prevented him from securing a collegiate education, but
his mind sought books and quiet study.

His father, a captain in artillery, was slain in the thickest of the
fight on the blood-drenched field of Gettysburg.

Then, too, on top of this great loss to the family, the soldiers of
Sherman's army occupying Atlanta, razed the large frame dwell-
ing house occupied by Mr. Millyard's mother and his little sister,
Cecelia, as soon as the house was vacated by them. Mother and
daughter were required to exile themselves from the city, to go
either north or south. They chose south, and were not out of
sight of their lovely home when the soldiers began tearing it down
to get the lumber to be used in building their breastworks, the
line of which passed close by the house.

The other houses in the city belonging to them were burned at
the same time the city was burned as Sherman's army departed to
march through Georgia.

These misfortunes, with the freeing of the negroes, left the Mill-
yards with no property save the bare ground.

When the war ended young Millyard built a home for his
mother and sister as best he could. The houses that Sherman
burned, the rents of which had been a source of income, were
later also replaced by others ; if not so good, they commanded rent
in Atlanta at that time.

It was at this period that Mr. Millyard, without collegiate edu-
cation and only eighteen years of age, began studying law instead
of theology. His father had expressed a desire and his mother still
more fondly wished for him to be a preacher.

The family lived in an atmosphere of refinement that was en-

Gets the Jew out of Trouble. 21

chanting. Both mother and daughter possessed gentle, sweet,
lovely dispositions and exquisitely charming manners.

Alpha Millyard's going to New Orleans was to better himself
in a broader field for his expanding mind in the practise of his
profession, after having wandered for a time in Kentucky and
North Carolina.

22 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER III.

MEETS THE CHARMER AND MISSES BEING SHOT.

After dinner — nearly all New Orleans dines from four and a
half to seven o'clock — Alpha Millyard, through a tortuous, devious
leading of intuition, or inclination, wended his way up Magazine
street to Magazine market. He no doubt thought possibly he
could in some way glean some sort of information at the market
concerning the whereabouts of the mysterious female who was
the cause of the threatened blighting of his life. His idea was to
see her and get matters rectified.

He explored the market in vain, and was wandering in that
section of the city when a heavy rain set in. He sought shelter
and found it accidentally at the residence of his casual acquaint-
ance, ex-Judge Cotton, a brother lawyer.

During the time it continued to rain Mr. Millyard by chance
drifted into a relation of the circumstances of his arrest and im-
prisonment.

Not until nine o'clock did it cease to rain. Then it was that
Alpha ventured forth and boarded a Magazine street car expecting
to return to his boarding-house. About midway in the next
square the car came to a place where the street swagged. The
mules had proceeded quite as far as they could without resorting
to swimming when the car came to a halt because the mules re-
fused to swim. The water was nearly up to the seats in the
car, although it was on higher ground than the mules were.

The passengers, both ladies and gentlemen, got up and were
standing on the seats on both sides of the car, and were scream-
ing and shouting at the driver and the conductor. Those two
worthies were taking their revenge by confounding the city and
its management for permitting such an event to be possible.

While the disconcerted driver and conductor were endeavoring
to unhook the mules from the front end of the car with the inten-
tion of taking them to the rear and pulling the car back out of the

Meets the Charmer and Misses Being Shot. 23

water, several passengers, finding themselves already drenched
from the knees down, set their legs in the water at the platform
and waded to the sidewalk. Among those so doing was Millyard.

Proceeding back up the street Millyard had not gone more than
twenty steps before he was arrested. The officer, who seized him
by the arm, searched him, as he said for deadly weapons.

" What am I arrested for? " inquired Millyard, calmly.

The detective explained that the information would have to be
furnished at police headquarters.

Millyard was marched down cross streets, crossing Camp street
to St. Charles street, thence to the central police station.

Not far behind them was another officer, with a young lady
under his escort as a prisoner. The two parties entered the police
station almost simultaneously. As Alpha Millyard was being
hurried to a cell he caught a glimpse of the lady, but failed to
recognize her.

" I demand to see the warrant, or to know the charge on which
I am arrested," said Millyard as he was ushered into the cell.

" You will learn in time enough for you," replied the turnkey
as he closed the door and locked it.

Half an hour later the turnkey reappeared at the door of Mill-
yard's cell.

" Come out here, young man," he said.

Mr. Millyard was marched down stairs and into the office of the
chief of detectives and confronted with a lady. The chief coarsely
and uncouthly asked :

" Do you know this woman, sir? "

" I have not the pleasure of the lady's acquaintance, nor do I
know her name," courteously responded Millyard, his usual way.

" Are you acquainted with this man? " inquired the officer, ad-
dressing the lady.

" I never saw him before," she replied, " until in the street car
on Magazine street to-night."

Then came another turn to the affair.

"What have you here my daughter for?" abruptly demanded
a lean wiry, black-whiskered, trim-dressed individual, who
rushed into the police office at that juncture. " Kate, why did you
not come home? Because they have arrested you? What have
they arrested you for ? "

Rushing toward the man with outstretched arms the lady fell
prostrate on the floor. Two of the officers rushed to the rescue

24 The Lady of New Orleans.

and asisted the lady to her feet. Meantime the enraged man turn-
ing toward Millyard, furiously exclaimed :

" You are the villain who has caused my daughter to be ar-
rested. I will kill you ! " The frenzied man on the instant
produced a little revolver wherewith to do the killing, and
leaped round a table which was in the center of the room.

One of the officers quickly intercepting, grabbed the pistol,
while another officer grasped the man.

Millyard was quickly hustled out of the office and back to his
cell. Soon after midnight the turnkey opened the door of his cell,
saying :

" Young man, you are discharged ; you may go."

Mr. Millyard uttered some imprecations as he was passing
out through the office about a gentleman being arrested in the
night; imprisoning him, then turning him adrift at such an un-
seasonable hour without any explanation, nor even an apology.

It was rather late in the night for Millyard to go to the home
of his friend where he boarded. Yet he had no other place to

go-
Next morning Mr. Millyard recounted to Judge Cotton the in-
cidents he experienced, and asked his advice as to what he should
do in the premises.

" There is a villainous scheme," said the wise old lawyer ; " a
diabolical scheme against the liberty of your person, Mr. Millyard.
Have you any enemies here ? "

" None, that I know of," replied Millyard.

" Then some friend of that young woman is endeavoring to get
you entangled in order to extricate himself."

" I wish you would help me out of my trouble, Judge," said
Millyard.

" All right, sir," replied the Judge. " I will do all I can for
you. Be quiet about it a few days until I can see the officials and
ascertain what it means."

" Very well, sir," said Millyard. " Then if they arrest me again
I will send at once for you."

Walking down the wide but well crowded sidewalk of Canal
street about an hour after seeing Judge Cotton, Mr. Millyard
was suddenly confronted by Miss Bertha Rosenstin, the lady
whom he was accused of abducting.

" I am sorry, Mr. Millyard, that you were arrested and put in the
police station on my account," she said. " I cried about it." She

Meets the Charmer and Misses Being Shot. 25

looked at him straight in the eyes. They were walking down
Canal street. She continued : ' Mr. Millyard, I love you. I
loved you before we met that night at Mr. Sam Waxelbaum's.
Father had heard me say so. He did not like it. He treats me
badly and causes my stepmother to treat me worse. So when I
went home that night and father found out that I had met you he
abused me and beat me, actually beat me. I decided to leave
home. They say I went to St. Louis, but I did not. I went
down in the French quarter to a lady friend of mine. A banker
here in town, where my father does his banking, has been ob-
noxious by his persistent attentions to me ever since last Autumn.
He found out where I was and came to see me. He told me
about your being arrested on my account. I told him that although
I loved you, of course you had nothing to do with my leaving
home. He said they intended to send you to the parish prison
and then to Baton Rouge. He is jealous of you."

' You surprise me so greatly," exclaimed Millyard, " I know
not what to say. Who is this banker ? "

' I cannot feel myself at liberty to tell you that," she replied,
" especially at the present time. Though I can say his bank is on
Camp street. He says he knows you ; that he met you on Caron-
delet street."

Carondelet street is the Wall street or Lombard street of New
Orleans.

" Did he say how, or why they intended to send me to the parish
prison and to the penitentiary ? "

;< No," she replied ; " that was all he said about it. Only, that
they have detectives watching you."

' There," cried Millyard, excitedly, " comes a man who tried to
shoot me last night." Millyard had no time to escape.

The man who endeavored to shoot him at the police station the
night before pressed himself forward through the crowd of people
on the sidewalk, mostly women and children, and, presenting a
small revolver at Mr. Millyard, pulled the trigger.

Miss Bertha Rosenstin uttered a piercing, terrifying scream, and
fell fainting to the sidewalk.

Those people who were near enough to witness the scene were
fearfully frightened, and fell back in horror.

A detective, who had been following Millyard, rushed forward
in time to snatch the little mischief-making pistol from the wild
man's grasp before he could pull the trigger the second time, it

26 The Lady of New Orleans.

having snapped and missed fire before. A poHceman appeared and
the two officers conducted both the would-be murderer and Mr.
Millyard to the police station.

" You here again so soon?" said the fat-faced, blur-eyed sta-
tion-house keeper to Mr. Millyard, as he was conducted in the
office.

" Sir. And as unrighteously as ever before," haughtily replied
Mr. Millyard, who was then marched to a cell without benefit of
bail, which the would-be shooting man was promptly allowed to
give.

About noon Millyard was taken before the chief, in his office.

' Young man, this is growing very serious with you," remarked
that pompous individual.

" I perceive it is, sir," replied Millyard. " And I desire to warn
you now that you and your henchmen must and shall cease this
unwarranted persecution of me, and at once.

" I accidentally met that female about whom you and your men
are hounding me. That ba»ker on Camp street as well as yourself
and your men are running yourselves as if in a race to become the
heaviest in debt in indemnity for your vile work. I demand the
charge against me and a hearing immediately. I will not submit
to any more quiet dismissals from arrest and imprisonment. I
demand that you send for Judge Cotton to come and see me im-
mediately." The chief discovered that he had run against a snag.

" Judge Cotton has not been in the police court in over two
years," replied the chief. " He does not take cases like this."

" Sir, I never asked you for information or your opinion. Do
as I have demanded and send me back to the cell."

Twentv minutes later Alpha Millyard was conducted back to
the chief's office and there confronted Judge Cotton. Mr. Mill-
yard informed the chief that he would excuse his absence from
the room a few minutes. When the chief was gone Millyard
related his case to Judge Cotton.

The latter called the chief back in the office.

" This gentleman belongs to one of the best families in the
south," explained Judge Cotton to the chief. " He was with ex-
President Jefferson Davis and General William F. Browne at the
City Hotel yesterday afternoon and again this morning, and I
know that they both hold him in high esteem. He is a lawyer in
good standing at our bar. You and your detectives, and that
banker on Camp street, are making a very grave mistake in perse-

Meets the Charmer and Misses Being Shot. 27

curing him. I am prepared to defend him on any charges that may
be preferred against him. If he is not released immediately on his
own recognizance I will walk up the street to the City Hall and
see the Administrator of Police about it."

" Certainly, Judge, if you say so," meekly replied the chief of
detectives. " We will want him to appear at the Recorder's Court
in the monr'ng at ten o'clock as a witness against Mr. Henrique
for attempting to shoot him." The chief did not relish the proba-
bility of the renowned and influential ex-judge consulting with the
Administrator of Police in regard to Alpha Millyard's case.

" Of course he will do that," the Judge replied.

28 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER IV.

MEETS DELARUE. — IS KIDNAPPED.

Feeling much relieved after being released, Mr. Millyard ven-
tured to visit the scene of the attempt on his life. His main
object in doing so was to ascertain what had become of Bertha
Rosenstin and whether she had recovered.

Observing a messenger boy, or clerk, standing at the door of
the store in front of which the disturbance of the peace took
place, Millyard quietly inquired if he could tell him what had
become of the young woman who fainted there that morning.

" They sent her to the Charity Hospital," said the boy.

Mr. Millyard was glad they had not sent her to her father's
house, for in such event he could not go and see her. He thanked
the boy and made his way down Canal street to the Charity Hos-
pital.

In answer to his inquiry Millyard was informed by an official in
the hospital that the lady had been sent home to her father, at his
request, two hours or more before.

Walking back up Canal street towards town Mr. Millyard was
musing over the affair, when, chancing to look across the wide
boulevard, he espied the detective who arrested him the first time.
But onward he walked, appearing not to have seen the officer.

Presently he met a scantily, or rather, shabbily, clad man, who
halted him by asking :

" Mister, please give me ten cents to get something to eat."

" Good gracious, man," replied Millyard ; " I need every cent
I have and more besides. I am in trouble."

" What kind of trouble? Can I help you? " The unkempt fel-
low exhibited a kind heart the second sentence he spoke.

" Help me? Eh? How can you help me?" replied Millyard,
eyeing the man closely.

" I used to be able to help people a great deal," said the tramp-
looking beggar. " What is the nature of your trouble ? " The

Meets Delarue. — Is Kidnapped. 29

poor man, though shabby in dress, had a noble looking face and a
pleasing expression of countenance. He was of good stature, but
had stubby black whiskers mixed with grey, small black eyes,
and wa ; rather thin in body, showing plainly that he was actually
lacking in the necessaries of life. He had turned and was walking
back with Millyard.

" My trouble is more serious than would concern you," returned
Millyard.

" If there is any trouble that can be righted, I have nothing to
do and need employment for my mind as well as to obtain food.
I can fathom any trouble that requires the services of a detective.
I used to be a detective."

" What ; are you a detective? "

" No, sir ; no indeed ; not now," the man replied quickly, fear-
ing no doubt from Millyard's hotly asked question that he had
blighted a chance for employment. " I got put out of that position
some time ago ! "

" I see a detective across the street," remarked Millyard, indi-
cating with a nod of his head. " He is shadowing me, but why I
do not know. I was arrested by him not long ago, but it was en-
tirely unwarranted and a false imprisonment. But I understand
they have me marked for trouble still in store. What kind and
why is beyond my ken."

" Why, certainly," replied the tramp ; " that is Bill Volney. He
is the worst and meanest man on the whole force. There is noth-
ing too mean for him to do."

' That to me is very cold comfort," said Millyard. He then
went on and related to the man all the circumstances connected
with his case.

" I am just the man to help you out of any trouble like that,"
said the new found friend. " Being an old detective in the depart-
ment with those fellows I can circumvent any game or job they
can put up on you. I worked myself out of office on account of
politics and drinking. But my brains have returned to my relief.
If you will permit, and furnish me something to eat, I can and will
find out and block any and every scheme against you they con-
coct. I think I know the banker who is referred to. I can easily
ascertain. If he be the one I think I can make him play my tune.
Nothing easier ; the same as with all rascals."

" You are the very man I want," Millyard returned in reply, dis-
covering a ray of hope that he could be saved from the evil that

30 The Lady of New Orleans.

seemed to be impending. " Come right along with me : I will pro-
vide for you as you request to the full extent of my means.

" I am a lawyer practising here, but have not been in New
Orleans very long ; still, I have considerable monev due me as
fees. If I had a good man with me to secure me cl ents I could
soon make money sufficient for us both. Recently, not having as
many clients as 1 wished, I have been dabbling in literature with a
friend, who is also a lawyer. I am collaborating with him on a
deep and very important work, which is in blank verse. I can,
however, relinquish that pastime and turn my attention wholly to
the practise of law. If you will get me cases I will share my fees
with you. This method of securing clients and fees was hereto-
fore outside the ethics of the profession ; but recently it is becom-
ing quite the vogue, and now it is the shiftiest man who gets the
business and the fees."

" I am glad to hear you talk in that way," said the ex-detective.
" It shows to me you have a latent backing of your own which
counts for something substantial. It thrills me also with renewed
energy to know that I can be favored to work for such a man. I
feel sure you can in only a few years make your fortune here in
New Orleans. If I can get new and decent clothes again, as I was
wont to wear, I know I can secure you the clients. Beinsf a detec-
tive here so long enables me to know the people well."

By this time the two men arrived at Johnnie's cafe, which was
on the corner of Carondelet and Gravier streets, where they took
drinks and had lunch.

" There is that Bill Volney still watching you." remarked the
beggar ex-detective as they came out of Johnnie's, turning his head
in the direction, continuing: " Don't you see him in the doorway
down there near Barronne just this side of the corner? By the
way, can you meet me at some place down town to-night ? "

" Yes, I suppose so," renlied Millyard. '

" If you will I may be able to impart some valuable information.
I will proceed at once to glean it from some of my old chums on
the force."

The two men met at the St. Charles Hotel early after dark, then
repaired to Johnnie's, where they took seats at a table in the rear
of the cafe.

" That Bertha Rosenstin feels aggrieved at you because you
received her declaration of love at Sam Waxelbaum's so coldly,"
said Millyard's friend.

Meets Delarue.— Is Kidnapped. 31

" Made love to me at Sam Waxelbaum's ? " ejaculated Millyard
in surprise. "lam not aware of her making a declaration of love
to me at his house. She said something about loving me when
she met me on Canal street."

" That is what she tells. She told her father so, and that is why
he thought you had induced her to leave him and her home and
go in hiding for you. She told him she made love to you at Sam
Waxelbaum's."

" Since I am reminded of it I believe the girl did hint at some-
thing of the kind. But I paid no attention to it. I thought she
was jesting, or merely saying something to be pleasant, compli-
mentary, or flirting to pass awav the time. I had no idea of the
woman being in earnest, as it was the first time I had ever seen
her, to know her.

" She is a handsome woman," continued Millyard after a pause.
" She told me, as I say to-day on Canal street that she loved me.
However, I am engaged to a lady in another state."

" Sam Waxelbaum put it into her head to make love to you,"
said Millyard's companion. Meantime their glasses were being
continually refilled with 'alf an' 'alf — a poor man's drink, but said
to be an awfully good one. ' He told her it was the proper thing
to do. But when you received her advances so coldly she per-
ceived at once that she had made a great mistake. She says it
troubled her in mind. When she got home that night, which is
over her father's jewelry store on the opposite side of Poydras
street from Sam's, she told her father about it. He then scolded
her and beat her with a walking cane. Next morning when she
was in Poydras market making purchases of food for the family
for the day she passed you and you refused to recognize her. That
was rather galling, so she decided to carry out her intention and
leave her father and stepmother's house. She went to a lady
friend's house in French-town, where she remained quite a week,
then returned home.

" The banker on Camp street went to see her several times and
wanted her to go with him. He is supplying the money to the
police to hound you down. She says his idea is that, if he can get
you out of the way, inasmuch as she loves you, then she will go
with him.

" The police, or someone has succeeded in persuading Gonzaze
Henrique to believe that you were trying to entice his daughter
away from her home also, as she was out from home that night

32 The Lady of New Orleans.

without notice to the family. That is the reason he tried to shoot
you, and says he will do it yet."

' Who is this Gonzaze Henrique ? " inquired Millyard.

' He is a broker on Carondelet street. One of the force told me
he is nearly crazy about the matter. It will be best for you to
keep out of his way."

" But I must go to court in the morning and appear as a witness
against him. Can you see him and explain the affair? "

" I will try ; though I am in a sad plight now for such business,
or any other."

' You must have a new outfit of clothing. I will give you some
bills to collect for me in the morning, and when that is done you
can get a new suit. Who is this banker on Camp street ? "

' Villeguini, Honore Villeguini. He is a schemer and is a
dangerous man. He will scruple at nothing, especially to secure
Bertha. I know him well. I caught him in a bad job once and
have the dead wood on him."

Millyard reflected a few moments, then asked :

" What would you suggest for me to do ? "

" Get a good lawyer and fight it out in court. I will do the out-
side work for you."

" I have, I guess, the best in town, Judge Cotton."

" The very man. I know him well."

" Here is some money," said Millyard, suiting the action to the
word. ' Take it and get yourself lodging and breakfast. Then
see me at court in the morning." It was midnight when they sep-
arated.

At the Recorder's Court the lawyer for Henrique plead guilty
for his client to the charge of disturbing the peace, for which a
nominal fine was imposed ; then waived examination on the charge
of attempting to shoot another, and gave bond for his appearance
at the district criminal court.

Upon motion of Judge Cotton, Mr. Henrique was required to
give a bond in the sum of one thousand dollars to keep the peace
as to Alpha Millyard.

Emerging from the dingy court room Millyard was joined by
his new found friend, who had something special and very import-
ant to tell. They repaired to Johnnie's.

' You have not asked me my name, but I must volunteer and
tell you : My name is Mike Delarue. I have a straight tip that
plans have been formed and are ready for execution to kidnap

Meets Delarue.— Is Kidnapped. 33

you and send you to some foreign port, any port. It is the inten-
tion to ship you to-night or in the morning. One of the boys told
me he heard of it on the sly. If you are forcibly taken by anyone
be sure and get me word to Johnnie's here by some means, any
means, so I will know the messenger is from you. I can inveigle
him to disclose your whereabuts, or, I can follow him."

" I wonder if anyone will be so bold and dastardly as to attempt
to kidnap me or any other man right here in New Orleans ! "
exclaimed Millyard.

" It is the best place in the world for kidnapping," said Delarue.
" There are always many tramp vessels here besides the regular
liners ; a man can be kidnapped in broad daylight and shipped al-
most any hour of the day with perfect ease. There are men on
the levee who would do the job neatly and with surety for
twenty-five dollars. All that is necessary is for some man with
the money and influence to secure the passage in order to kidnap
and ship almost any man in town. Villeguini could do it, and
he is the kind of man who would do it."

" Here is a ten-dollar bill additional, Mr. Delarue ; it is all I have
on hand, but it will pay your expenses a few days, probably until
this thing is over. Should they not kidnap me before morning
come to my office on Carondelet and get some bills to collect for

me."

Judge Cotton's office was on the south side of Canal street just
east of St. Charles street. Mr. Millyard went and saw Judge
Cotton. After which he walked up Canal and turned into Camp
street, intending to board a Camp street car and go for a lunch
at his boarding-house, it being then near one o'clock. He was
walking leisurely, expecting a car every moment.

Millyard got to the corner of Gravier street when a heavy-built,
brawny man, who had every appearance of being a longshore-
man, or a tramp sailor, accosted him abruptly as he grasped Mill-
yard's right wrist with his left hand and exhibiting a hideous-
looking dirk knife in his rirrht hand, hid from public view beneath
the ample sleeve of his sailor-like blue flannel shirt, commanded :

" See this ? Don't yer ' cheep ' young mon, er you're a goner.
You'll have to come with me; you're wanted. Come up this
'er way.

The ungainly giant forced poor Millyard along as though he
were a mere boy.
3

34 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER V.

THE DAGO TAKES A TUMBLE.

Mr. Millyard was hustled up Gravier street to the river front,
thence down the river across the foot of Canal street on and on to
the ship sailors' quarter at the great bend in the river.

He was conducted through a narrow archway or hole through
the wall, which was no wider than a door, or much higher to the
arch above than was the ruffian's head.

They emerged into a courtyard in the rear of the buildings ;
thence went up a narrow stairway, with a baluster on the outer
side and a brick wall on the other side, and landed on a little
four by six feet platform supported by four scanty four-inch
square scantlings as posts.

From the platform Millyard was ushered into a room, devoid of
light, and midway in the dark corridor, where he was left after
being admonished to rest easy until he was called for.

As the door to the room was being closed, which would shut
him in the dark, Millyard spoke his first word to the man. He
said:

" Can you go for me to Johnnie's saloon on the corner of Caron-
delet and Gravier streets and inquire of one of the clerks or bar-
tenders for a Mr. Mike Delarue, and when you find him tell him
to send me my watch and that hundred dollars? Tell him I am
going away and that I need them; I can't come to see him to-
night."

" Hadn't yer better kinder writ 'im er note, young mon? Yer
see, 'e wouldn't know me, an' wouldn't sen' it jes' on my say so,"
drawlingly retorted the villainous old kidnapper.

" All right," replied Millyard ; " give me some paper and I will
write him a note."

" Humph ! There ain't a bit er writin' paper in ther craft."

" Get me an old piece of wrapping paper, then."

" I k'n git yer some whut I got ther herrin's wropped up in."

The Dago Takes a Tumble. 35

The man stood outside holding the door with one hand while Mill-
yard was inside in the dark.

" That will do. Any kind of paper."

The note written was as follows :

" Mr. Mike Delarue, at Johnnie's. — Dear Sir : Please send me
by bearer of this my hundred dollars and my watch. I am goirg
away and will need them. This shall be your receipt for same.
Yours faithfully, Alpha Millyard."

When the great, blowzy longshoreman, for he was a longshore-
man and worked on the levee, took the note and glanced at it he
handed it back to Millyard and asked him to read it. When the
note had been read to him he took it and departed in high glee. He
no doubt expected that he would easily make the hundred dollars
and the watch.

Mr. Millyard rested comparatively contented on the old thing
which for want of a name was called a bed. He knew he was in
imminent peril of his personal liberty, although the ruffian had
not mentioned anything of that nature to him. He had heard
enough from Delarue to put him on due guard.

Several hours elapsed and Mr. Millyard had not heard the
sound of a human voice or seen a ray of light.

Finally about seven o'clock, a quaint, fat old woman with a
cracked voice, spoke in a loud tone at his door, screeching:

" Mistar, will yer have a bit 'er dinner? "

" Yes, if you please, dear madam ; also some water to quench
my dreadful thirst. Has the man come back?" replied Mill-
yard.

" He takes 'is time. He'll come," soothingly the old soul an-
swered, Millyard's endearing expression no doubt having had
effect. Fat old women are as susceptible to compliments as any
other person.

Recumbent on the little cot in the room Millyard had been
wondering all the afternoon what was to be the outcome of the
outrageous proceedings.

The old lady served him a lunch, which she called dinner.

An hour subsequent the dowdy, big longshoreman returned blus-
tering and fierce.

" The dom'd mon wuz too 'oly drunk ter know w'at 'e wuz
doin'," said the fellow uncouthly, as he held the door open. " He
sed fer yer ter go ter 'ell on a wheelbarrer, an' wait 'till 'e come.
He treated ter sevril blowsin' big swigs er mighty good licker."

36 The Lady of New Orleans.

The longshoreman showed evidence of his having taken " sevril
blowsin' big swigs." He went on : " See here bud, they got me
ter git yer so they k'n ship yer off 'n a skipper fur Liverpul. She
lays 'longside ther wharf out thar. I hopt ter load 'er. Ther's a
mon comin' ter see yer ter-night. Meb-be 'e kin tell yer more 'bout
it'n I kin. They sez yer run er way an' stole er gal, an' they're
goin' ter sen' yer back."

" Did they tell you where I am from ? " inquired Millyard com-
placently. He had a sinister motive in asking this question. The
reply might indicate to what place he was to be transported.

" Nuck. They just sed yer wuz run er way, an' p'intid yer
out'n tole me how ter ketch yer, an' I kotch yer ; yer know how
that wuz ? "

" Who was it pointed me out to you ? What is his name ? "
asked Millyard in a friendly manner. " Conie now, you be
friendly with me and I will be friendly witn you. I may be able
to do you a good turn. I am a lawyer. If we can get that hun-
dred dollars and my watch I will give you half of the money."

" Yo' see, it wer' jest this er way : Mister Mullinax asked me ef
I had er spar' bed'n my 'ouse. I tole 'im I did'n, 'e sez, could yer
'rest er mon? I told 'im I could, as I'd done it afore. Then I
'restid yer. 'Fore this ere time I hearn um say they wuz goin' ter
ship yer back ter Liverpul on ther Magenter."

" Magenter? What ship is that? " inquired Millyard.

" Don't cher know ther Magenter? " the man replied, as if dis-
gusted. " Well, yer ain't bin in Nor-leens long, nor'n Liverpul
much, not ter know 'bout ther Magenter. She's a buster, a
reg'ler sea-cleaver. She carries more stuff" n any shio whut goes
out'n this 'ere port ; an' she brings back more."

" Why did they not carry me to the police station, and not tres-
pass on a, good man like you, who has to work for his living? '

" O, bless yer, bud ; they paid me. I tole um I wouldn't do it
fer less'n twenty-five samoleons, an' 'e jerked er out'n give um ter
me quicker'n a fish can flirt. So I'm paid, an' hafter keep my
faith. I treated yer mon whut's got yer watch'n mun' as much ez
'e treated me. 'E foller'd me nearly ter the 'ole 'n ther wall, jest
ferninst ther Magenter over ther."

" Why didn't you bring him on here, man, and let me get my
watch and money ? He flipped you ? " Millyard never heard the
phrase before, but he wanted to say something that would appeal
to the fellow's pride.

The Dago Takes a Tumble. 37

" No 'e didn't ! 'E wuz too 'oly drunk. 'E sed 'e wuz goin' back
ter Johnnie's." The Dago, he was a Dago, was puffing and tug-
ging at a half -burned thing resembling a cigar stump, one, which
with another one he received in return for five cents of his nefar-
iously earned money.

" My good man," said Millyard, calmly, " you are doing me
wrong. But if you will get me my watch and half of my hundred
dollars I will be satisfied. Can't you go again and bring him, or
the money and watch, here? If I go with you I am sure you can
find him. Can't you take me with you? A great big man like
you is surely not afraid of my running away from you ? "

" Not a bit uv vit, me lad. You may come wid me az quick as
I've a bit er dinner. Come out'n sit on ther porch till I eat." It
was then about ten o'clock.

Millyard was escorted out on the diminutive porch at the head
of the stairway, where a rickety old chair was placed as a seat for
him while the Dago ate his dinner in the house.

Becoming restless Millyard made a slight noise. Immediately
he heard a subdued trilling whistle, like that of a mocking-bird
softly singing in subdued tones in the night-time in a sick per-
son's room. He recognized, perhaps intuitively, that it was a sig-
nal from his friend, Delarue. He answered it in the same strain as
near as he could. There was an answer the same. Millyard's heart
fluttered with joy. He recognized that Delarue was true to
him.

' I will always help a tramp after this," he muttered to him-
self. Yet he was unable to decide what was best for him to do.
He leaned over the low railing that was round the " porch," as
the Dago longshoreman called it, and spoke in as low voice as he
could :

" Is that you, Delarue ? " There was no other reply only the
same trilling tones as before.

' We are going out to hunt for you directly," whispered Mill-
yard.

" Hold the fort, I'll be with you. If you leave I may miss you,"
half hissed Delarue, for it was he. Millyard saw his "pale shadow
in the courtyard, as he stealthily but rapidly made his way through
the hole in the wall toward the street.

This was weirdly interesting to Alpha Millyard. His plans
were changing rapidly in his mind. If he went out with the Dago
it would be contrary to Delarue's command. If the Dago fellow

38 The Lady of New Orleans.

required him to go he did not understand how he could avoid it.
His hopes were that, when he was out in town at night with the
kidnapping longshoreman he would have his best chance to elude
him, or see some one he knew, or some way make his escape. Be-
sides, he did not wish to see the man whom the Dago said was
coming.

' Ugh, young mon, you're here yit," exclaimed the bluff ruffian
as he waddled out on the porch. ' But yer didn't know there wuz
er mon down ther watchin' yer ter see as whether yer tried ter
skape."

' No, I did not," replied Millyard dolefully, and rubbing his
fingers through his hair reflectively. He wondered if the man
referred to was Delarue, or if he himself had mistaken another
man for Delarue.

Doubts are savage ghosts to warp men's judgment. And,
doubts at times arise in all men's minds.

" All right, laddie, we'll jist go up town'n see ef we k'n fine
yer 'onery mon an' git that watch 'n spon." He meant spondulix,
money.

Millyard and the longshoreman had just passed into Royal
street when thev met a nicelv dressed man in the full glare of a
street lamp, who accosted the kidnapper and spoke to him.

Later it developed to Millyard that the man they thus met was
none other than the banker, Villeguini. Millyard did not know
him.

A few moments later a gentleman they were meeting greeted
Millyard by name and was in the act of offering to shake hands
when the Dago grasped Millyard's arm and jerked him away. He
then turned and led Millyard back the way they came.

' Yer mon's drunk'n gone ter roost," ejaculated the illiterate
'Dago, somewhat apologetically for his action. Millyard dis-
cerned that the Dago had perceived that he was taking consider-
able risk in allowing his prisoner to be on the streets at night.

'" I am sorry I do not know where he roosts," retorted Mill-
yard as they were retracing their steps.

Millyard had been looking and hoping all the while, more for a
chance to make a break and escape than he was for finding Del-
arue. He was apprehensive about accosting a policeman. They
were he knew, or thought he knew, in the scheme against
him.

" Yoh th-ar, laddie ; 'e makes 'is boonk'n ther parks. That's ef

The Dago Takes a Tumble. 39

'e ain't saltid yer 'undred. We're stuffin sedge'n er hole'n ther
biler tryin' ter fine 'im. We'll go back ter ther 'ole in ther vvall'n
anker."

When they came to a little French wine shop, at the instance of
the Dago, they entered. After repeating drinks three of four
times, the Dago taking liquor, they resumed their journey hole-in-
the-wallward. j

Alpha Millyard was amused and interested even if an outrage
was being perpetrated upon him. Perhaps it was fortunate and
better for him to be shipped to any place rather than remain in
New Orleans under the espionage of police and the detectives, and
subject to be sent to the parish prison or the penitentiary, or to
be assassinated at any moment. These were the thoughts that
reconciled him to his fate.

As they entered the hole in the wall Millyard heard the same
kind of trilling whistle he had heard earlier in the night.

' Thar's that ar feller watchin' fer yer ter see't choo don't
scape," remarked the longshoreman, gleefully.

Millyard was placed in the same dark room he occupied pre-
viously. Resigned to his fate he laid himself on the cot without
removing his clothing. His thoughts were desultory and Unsatis-
factory. Presently he heard the peculiar whistle again louder
than before. He was sure it was meant for him and for his wel-
fare. He got up and quietly went out on the little porch.

" Come down here quick," shouted a voice which he knew to
be that of Delarue.

Millyard started down the stairway in a hurry. As he nearly
reached the landing a man leaped from a large box under the
stairway, and, rushing round in front of the steps, said in a low
but firm voice :

" No you don't, ^oung man. You just march right back up-
stairs and go to bed till you're called."

Mr. Millyard recognized him as the detective who arrested him
the first time. Millyard had no weapon, and he feared to rush un-
armed on the man. In this dilemma and on the instant another
man sprang suddenly forward through the entrance of the wall
and struck the detective a fearful heavy blow on the head with a
large revolver which he held in his hand, exclaiming :

' Throw your pistol down and hold up your hands, quick, or I'll
make a hole through you, Volney." It was Mike Delarue.

Volney, the detective, hesitated.

40 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Quick, or I'll shoot," shouted Delarue.

Volney cast his revolver a few paces aside.

" Now march out there in the yard," said Delarue.
Volney backed a few paces, saying :

" I am an officer, sir; I arrest you, both of you."
' Not much, Volney. You're in the wrong game. Mr. Mill-
yard, get out of here. I'll attend to Volney. He can't criminally
kidnap gentlemen so easy as he thinks. Volney, we will have you
sent up to Baton Rouge if you ever interfere in the least with
Mr. Millyard again. Do you hear? We may do it anyhow.
Keep out of our way, you hear? And let Mr. Millyard alone.
We have the dead wood on you now, you villain."

At that moment the Dago appeared at the top of the stairway
and started down the steps in a great rush. But the liquors the
man had drank had taken effect. His foot stumbled. He pitched
head-foremost, and tumbling over and over, his limp body landed
on the ground at the feet of Delarue.

Millyard rushed to the unfortunate man's assistance regardless
of the entreaties of Delarue to " come on ! " Delarue receded
through the hole in the wall to the street. Volney also came
to the aid of the injured man.

Millyard and Volney raised the groaning man and placed him
in a sitting posture against the post supporting the railing of the
steps.

The kidnapper's right arm was broken. He was bleeding pro-
fusely at the nostrils, and there was a fearful gash on his
forehead. He was unconscious.

" We should take him up-stairs and send for a doctor," said
Millyard.

As they attempted to do so Delarue yelled again for Millyard
to come on. But Mr. Millyard persisted until he and Volney got
the man in his room and on the bed.

" Git the arnica, quick," shouted the fat wife of the injured
man to one of her children who was standing near.

" Get the doctor, quick," exclaimed Millyard.

Besides the other injuries, the man's nose was smashed almost
flat. His left hip was out of joint, and it seemed as if his skull
was fractured.

" There's no doctor 't this time er night," said the good-natured
woman.

" Yes, there is," retorted the humanitarian, Millyard. " Any

The Dago Takes a Tumble. 41

doctor will come, if you send for him. Where is the nearest doc-
tor? I will go myself."

' There's one up'n Royal street, but he's too fur," answered
the woman, briskly. " Git the doctor up here't the sailors'
boarding-house."

In haste down the stairs Millyard went ; then through the hole
in the wall, on out to the street, where he met Delaure, who was
waiting in a tremor of suspense.

" Good gracious ! " exclaimed Delarue. " You are the most
audaciously unconcerned, reckless man I ever saw. Don't you
know that fellow, Volney, is liable to put up a job on you and
swear that you killed that Dago? Did he get killed? "

" I hope not," replied Millyard, calmly. " But he came awfully
near it. I am after a doctor. Where can I find one? The old
woman said there is one at the sailors' boarding-house."

' Yes ; and let the doctor be able to swear to your identity,"
snapped Delarue. " Now that you are free from the villains come
with me. Let Volney get the doctor. They have no right to ex-
pect you to get one."

" I would not do so only for the sake of humanity," replied
Millyard. " It will not be much trouble for me to step in the
sailors' boarding-house as we are passing and send word by the
servant to the doctor."

Delarue showed Mr. Millyard the boarding house when they
came to it, and Millyard left instructions for the doctor.

" We must go across this street and keep on the by-streets.
A/Tolney will be sure to follow as soon as he finds you do not re-
turn with the doctor," remarked Delarue, now more calm, as the
two men hurried on their way up town.

" I told you I will help you, and I will do it."

" Mike, I am now well aware of that," returned Millyard.
' You impress me much. I must confess I am alarmed by your
new theory. I had not thought of the affair in that light."

42 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER VI.

KIDNAPPED THIS TIME.

" From this time forth you must never beg again as long as
you remain with me," remarked Mr. Millyard after a long pause
between him and Delarue as they were nearing the Colonnade, a
French hotel on Royal street.

" No ; I shall spruce up and be a man and obtain law cases for
you. I can meantime study law in your office. Shall we take
something in the Colonnade after our, or rather your, bitter ex-
perience of the day and night ? " They entered the hotel.

A drowsy porter agreed to serve them at the bar, although he
did not understand the business, and it was then after three
o'clock.

Being refreshed they wended their way up Royal street to
Canal street and crossing the same were about to enter St.
Charles street when two policemen confronting them announced
that they were under arrest.

" Dan, what do you want with me, a poor devil? " said Delarue
to the policeman nearest him.

" Come with me to the central, Mike, and see," returned the
fellow.

The other policeman jerked Mr. Millyard by the collar of his
coat and marched him off up Canal street toward the river. It
is up hill and toward the east to the river on Canal street.

"What am I arrested for?" demanded Millyard, who was
being used very roughlv. " You people are going too far with
me."

" What cher doin' out this time'n the mornin' ? Eh? Where've
you been ? You're a sucker. Been with Mike Delarue. Where's
yer shootin' alley? Bloke bub, we've got you this time. We're
goin' to ship you to where you can't git back soon."

" If you have me under arrest take me to the station-house and
not in a direction from it, you villain," exclaimed Millyard, as he

Kidnapped this Time. 43

jerked himself free from the grasp of the fellow and backed him-
self against the brick wall of a store, at the same time drawing
a very small tortoise-shell-handled penknife from his vest pocket.
He then added :

" First tell me, sir, the nature of the charge on which I am
arrested by you, or I will not budge a step unless in self-defense."

The policeman drew his club from his belt and, advancing
quickly, whacked Mr. Millyard a blow on the head with the
billet, which, had it not been parried to some extent by Millyard's
left arm, would have cracked his skull.

The blow dazed him for several moments. But all his vitality
being centered in the cause, he quickly recovered. Millyard
sprang at his assailant and made a sweeping strike with the
little penknife, the short blade obtruding between his thumb and
index finger. Quick as a flash of lightning the little knife blade
slashed across the man's jaw from the upper part of the left ear
ranging downward near to the point of the chin. In another
instant Millyard had seized the policeman's revolver, just in time
to prevent the man from shooting him full in the face.

" I am cut," proclaimed the policeman.

In wrestling the revolver from his grasp, Millyard had shoved
the policeman backward to the sidewalk, landing him in a sitting
posture, when he clasped both hands on his cheek and chin.

" Good heavens, have I killed the man ? " were the first thoughts
that flashed in Millyard's mind. " I did not mean to kill him.
Now they will have a cause for putting me in prison. If I flee
he knows me and I will be captured. Whether they do or not I
have the manhood to face all my acts. I will assist the man
and meet the consequences."

Millyard asked the man for his handkerchief, and was pre-
paring to place it over his jaw when the other policeman who had
started off with Delarue walked briskly up to where they were
and asked abruptly : ,

" What is the matter, Lum? "

' This fellow's cut my throat," he whispered in reply, as the
other blew his whistle.

Mr. Millyard had already seen that the injury was not serious;
only a gash across his cheek on the lower part and not on the
throat.

" I did it in self-defense," interposed Millyard. " And you,
both of you, shall hear further from this. He was taking me away

44 The Lady of New Orleans.

from the station-house, not toward it ; was attempting to kidnap
me as I was to-day, and you were aiding and abetting. I will
have you both indicted and discharged from the police force.
You must learn that you cannot kidnap gentlemen, or any other
person."

Another policeman, who had ran to the scene, grabbed Millyard
and hustled him most indecently to the central police station.
Without being permitted even to wash the blood from his face
and hair he was locked in a dungeon-like cell on the first floor.

Xext morning in the Recorder's Court, Mr. Millyard was re-
manded to the parish prison to await the outcome of the police-
man's wound.

No case was made against Delarue. He was discharged from
the prison in the night soon after the policeman who arrested him
sent him there.

Mr. Millyard remained in the parish prison the balance of the
week.

Monday morning he was taken before the Recorder and dis-
charged. Judge Cotton was on hand. He had seen the policeman
who was cut and the latter acknowledged himself to be in the
fault. Delarue, who was also in court, had told the policeman if
he prosecuted in the matter that Mr. Millyard would prosecute
him criminally for false arrest, as well as sue the city for damages
on that account.

Delarue joined Millyard as the latter was about to part from
Tudgfe Cotton at the entrance of the filthv court-room, and im-
parted the information, which he had obtained confidentially, that
other plans were already matured whereby Millyard was to be
kidnapped immediately, or as soon as possible, and shipped to
France.

" If there is anything more of that nature going on, young gen-
tleman," said the sedate old ex-Judge, " you must inform me at
once. Remember, Mr. Millyard, I will aid you all I can ; only let
me know."

" There is that Volney following us," exclaimed Delarue to
Millyard after they parted from the Judge.

" Goodness, Mike," said Alpha, " don't mention detectives or
policemen. My nerves are unstrung and cease their action at the
thought of one of those swinehounds."

" Dennis Rooney told me they propose to prove that you ab-
ducted Bertha Rosenstin, or, in any event, that you ruined her

Kidnapped this Time. 45

and now refuse to marry her. She is expected to side with them
in her testimony against you, because she is so desperately in
love, or infatuated with you that she will say or do anything to
gain you for her own. She will hope for you to compromise and
marry her. The banker, Villeguini, is encouraging her to this,
and Sam Waxelbaum is aiding in behalf of Villeguini, who wants
you sent to the penitentiary so you cannot compromise or marry
her. Villeguini will scruple at nothing to accomplish his aims.
He told Bertha so, though in other terms. Sam Wax, has been
to see your boarding-house man and said something to incur his
displeasure with you. He says he is disgusted with you."

' I must go and see Mr. Frank right away. My trunk and all
my clothes are there,'' said Millyard in return as they were enter-
ing Johnnie's. " I have not helped him any on our collaboration
in nearly two weeks. But thanks, it was nearly finished ; Mr.
Frank may have it. Look, Mike, there is that longshoreman
Dago. His arm is in a sling. But I do not understand how he
can be walking on that broken leg this soon."

" Made of metal ; they can stand anything," returned Mike,
laconically. " He's looking for you. There, he saw us. We
must slip out the back way."

Out on the banquet, as the people of New Orleans call the
sidewalk, they debated and decided to go and see Judge Cotton
at once.

When they' had related the circumstances to Judge Cotton the
good old man counseled that they go with him and inform the
Administrator of Police about the whole matter.

" I will look into it," said the functionary of that city called
the " Administrator of Police," to Judge Cotton when Delarue
had concluded the narration, as he slammed his hand on a little
silver bell that was on the desk.

A messenger appeared immediately, to whom the head of the
Police department of New Orleans said :

" Inform the chief of police and the chief of detectives that I
want to see them immediately after lunch. Judge, I will let you
know about this in the morning, if you will take the trouble to
call as you are on your way to your office."

Millyard and Delarue passed the afternoon in quiet together.
The calm was just before the storm.

Millyard was particularly careful not to venture out from home
that evening after dinner. He remained and worked with Mr.

46 The Lady of New Orleans.

Frank until a late hour before retiring to sleep. He slept in a
room fronting on a narrow passageway on the side of the house.
A stairway led down beside the house at the end of the front yard.
The passageway, or upper balcony, was covered. There were
other lodgers in other rooms all fronting on the passageway,
among them a police officer.

New Orleans has more balconies and verandas extending full
width of the wide sidewalks than any other city in the world.
Their grand Mardi Gras festivities brought this about.

The night was hot, and Millyard had left his front window
raised.

About four o'clock in the morning Millyard was awakened by
three men in his room. One of them was the disabled Dago
longshoreman. Mr. Millyard was overpowered and something
was inserted in his mouth before he could make an outcry. He
was ordered to dress himself quickly and make no noise about it.
When ready they opened the door and marched him out, thence
to a hack in waiting diagonally across the street. He was rapidly
driven to the wharf almost opposite the hole in the wall. He
was at once conducted on board of a large steamship which was
ready to depart.

Streaks of daylight were just glistening in the east when the
great steamer glided from the wharf and placidly started down
the mighty Mississippi River. One of Millyard's captors, who
had stood watch over him closely until the last moment, rushed
ashore just as the gangway was being hoisted.

Alpha Millyard wras abducted, kidnapped ; and for what ?

Stop Der Ship. 47

CHAPTER VII.

STOP DER SHIP.

Mr. Millyard resigned himself to his fate. His discourage-
ment was almost complete. It is a hundred miles from New Or-
leans to the bar or passes of that father of waters, so he had time
for his thoughts.

The sun was high above the eastern horizon before breakfast
was announced. Mr. Millyard felt little like eating. Still he
quietly approached a place at the long table and took a seat. He
ate slowly and but little, sipping at the coffee. Just before finish-
inng he glanced down the table. Far down on the other side of the
table his eyes met the stare of those of Miss Bertha Rosenstin.

Dropping his knife and fork Millyard quietly rose from his
seat and repaired to the deck. He was leaning over the rail
sadly reflecting on what her presence on board could portend,
when Bertha came by his side.

' You seem to wish to avoid me, Mr. Millyard ; is such the
case ? But I suppose by your being on this steamer we are to take
a voyage across the ocean together," remarked the young woman.

" Miss Bertha," replied Millyard, turning toward her, " I have
had so mucl trouble on your account, that is, rather, on account
of you, that I do not know what to do or what to say in reply.
Please tell me why you are on board this steamer, and whither
you are going ? "

" I am being sent to Hc.vre, then eventuallv to go from there
out near Dresden among some of my relatives. I have been
forced to make the trip. I may add it is on account of you. My
father so decided late last night."

" Then is it prearranged that you should meet me on this
steamer?" earnestly asked Millyard.

" Not so far as I am aware," replied Bertha slowly, as if
thinking.

" I may as well tell you at once ; three men entered my room

48 The Lady of New Orleans.

about four o'clock this morning and by force brought me hither to
this steamer at her wharf. About daylight I was conducted on
board and here 1 am. It seems that some one wishes me away
from New Orleans in order that I shall be away from you, unless
perchance it is arranged that we shall be thrown together. Of
that I am not now in a position to fathom. But this I know full
well ; it is a hallucination with some one, most probably, as far as
I can learn a banker on Camp street, that I am seeking to
appropriate you to myself by stealth. No one knows any better
than yourself that this is far from being the truth. I have not
sought you, nor do I now seek you."

He hesitated a moment or two, then added : " But it is a very
singular coincidence that we are, against our wishes, on the same
steamer crossing the ocean."

" Fate hath strange fancies, Mr. Millyard," retorted Bertha, as
she moved nearer him in a confiding manner. " That it deals
kindly with me in casting us together instead of separating us I
am free to admit. But I had no knowledge of or hand in its doing.
Fate has never condescended to consult with me. I am a stranger
to it and take it as it comes. I hope you will not regret it."

" I shall be glad to not regret it, but I am in no mood for any-
thing to ensue which will allay regret or cause me to forget the out-
rageous manner in which I have been treated. I was not allowed
to get my baggage or see a friend, or even provide myself with
money. I do not know where I am to go or what I am to do. I
know no person over there. I will be thrown on the world in a
strange land without a change of clothing or a penny. My only
chance will be to see the American consul and have him make this
steamship company return me here."

" As for money, Mr. Millyard, you shall share all I have and
more besides," exultingly exclaimed Miss Bertha. " I have money
and I have rich relatives over there. I am going to my own
mother's brother. He is very wealthy."

It was evident that Bertha Rosenstin was desperately infatuated
with Alpha Millyard. She was a very handsome Jewish woman.
She was, she said, some few months over nineteen years of age.
A fascinating, voluptuous creature in personal appearance, and
fair to look upon.

She doubtless inherited her beauty from her mother. Her father
was anything but prepossessing in personal appearance. He came
to America because he could not sustain pleasant relations with

Stop Der Ship. 49

his wife's relatives. They were above his station in society and
wealth.

His wife did not survive long after their arrival in New Orleans.
It was no secret among certain of their set that her death was
hastened by his cruel treatment. Morritz Rosenstin's second wife,
the stepmother of Bertha, was tyrant over him, as well as over
Bertha, and kept Morritz under subjection so far as she was con-
cerned, while poor Bertha was tyrannized over by both of them.
Their cruel treatment embittered the girl against her father and his
wife and their home.

Mr. Millyard was evidently doomed to the young lady. It
seemed as it he could not well escape it. He was without money
and without a change of clothing on a steamship bound for Havre,
France, where he had not a friend or acquaintance, save her, when
they got there. But if he accepted her voluntary proffer of assist-
ance it would throw him on her tender mercies and inevitably es-
tablish him as her husband.

******

Mike Delarue paced up and down the levee near the wharfs
during two hours before daylight watching for Alpha Millyard.
The steamer Hilda seemed to be the only vessel making prepara-
tions to depart at an early hour. The Hilda lay nearly opposite
the hole in the wall. Delarue .was not aware that Millyard had
been kidnapped, but he was watching as a precautionary measure.
Intuition, that has something to do with many acts of many men,
led him to it.

At length Mike was rewarded for his vigilance. Rapidly gliding
through a multitude of all kinds of people congregated on the
levee, a number of whom were longshoremen who had just finished
loading the last of the steamer's cargo, and along the devious
route left open by a miscellaneous assortment of merchandise, in-
cluding bales of cotton intended for other vessels, Delarue recog-
nized the form of Alpha Millyard ushered by three persons, one
of whom he could well see was the Dago longshoreman hobbling
with a crutch and his arm in a sling. There was no mistaking
these two men. The third man he could not recognize.

Delarue whistled as he did on the night at the hole in the wall.
Millyard evinced no sign of having heard or recognized the pecu-
liar noise. There was, as it were, a wall of merchandise separating
him from them. Delarue rushed out toward the street a hundred
4

50 The Lady of New Orleans.

feet or more distant, intending to follow in the same path the kid-
nappers had taken Millyard.

" Hello, Mike," a policeman saluted.

" Hello, Dan, 's that you in my path again ? " Delarue had
rushed on the same policeman who lured him from Millyard the
night Mr. Millyard almost cut the throat of the other policeman.

" Where you bound, Mike? Goin' off to Havre on the Hilda?
You got plenty time. Take it easy. What you got there?"
Delarue had not himself observed or thought of his having his
revolver in his hand, so intent was he on his mission.

" I am after those villains who are kidnapping Mr. Alpha
Millyard," shouted Delarue angrily, as he started onward.

" Not so fast, Mike. Hold a minute, I have a word for you.
There's money in it," said the policeman, who seemed to think that
because Delarue was formerly a detective that he should now, if
he had not previously, accept fees for favors not in line of duty
but controlled by it. " That fellow will be sent to the pen if he
remains here ; so you will be doing him an act of charity to let
him go while his passage is being paid for him. Those fellows
won't let you see him. Put that gun away."

" And then you grab me for carrying concealed weapons ? O,
no, not much," said Delarue.

" I can do it anyway ; you did have it concealed."

" You do not know any such thing, and it cannot be proven,"
hotly retorted Delarue.

Thus the two men bandied words during five minutes or more,
until the huge steamer Hilda began to move from the wharf, back-
ing out on the placid bosom of the mighty Mississippi.

" You can go now, Mike," said Dan, the policeman, as a parting
salutation.

Delarue was disconcerted. He saw his best endeavors thwarted.
His new-found friend in whom his hopes had centered was
snatched from him on the threshold of what he had good reason
to believe would be to him and to his friend a pleasant and prosper-
ous future. He turned and sadly went his way.

Strolling into the jewelry store of the Polak, Morritz Rosenstin,
on Poydras street, about ten o'clock that morning, Delarue finally,
after other preliminary remarks between them, casually said :

" They shipped that fellow Millyard on the steamer Hilda this
morning." It is superfluous to add that this announcement pro-
duced a human combustion.

Stop Der Ship. 51

" Ghott'n himmel ! Mine Bertah vos on dot ship ! Dcy must
sthop der ship. Dey must sthop der ship right er vay." Exclaim-
ing thus the ill-favored Polak sank on a chair in a paroxysm of
moaning and lamenting.

Delarue quietly walked out of the store. Accidentally he had
learned something of importance. He saw Judge Cotton at once.

" This is interesting," said he to the Judge. " Can it be possible
that Villeguini is trying to force Millyard to marry Bertha instead
of his trying to prevent it ? "

As a result of their interview Judge Cotton caused Delarue to
accompany him to see the Administrator of Police. With much
warmth of feeling and some curt words the Judge informed that
functionary of what had taken place and the part taken in it by
some of the police.

The Administrator of Police was amazed. He called in his of-
fice another functionary under him with whom he held a private
conference. At the end of which he said to the Judge that he
would immediately telegraph to Quarantine and also to Pilot
Town and have Mr. Millyard taken from the steamer and re-
turned on another to New Orleans. If the Hilda had passed Quar-
antine the police officer at Pilot Town would be sure to have him
disembarked there.

This arrangement satisfied Judge Cotton and Delarue. The
latter then bestirred himself to do every needful thing in order that
there could be no excuse for a mishap in securing Millyard's re-
turn. That Millyard was to be returned was so interesting to
him that he thought it woulud be equally so to the Polak. He
therefore went to Rosenstin's store intending to tell him. As he
entered the Polak exclaimed :

" Ah, ha ! I haf mine Bertah sent pack frum dot Guarantine
mit der next ship vot dos comes. I gets der schief mit der ber-
leace, he dos delegraph der berleace officer unt Bilot Down to
arrest mine Bertah ant dake 'er frum der Hilda ant sent 'er
back ter me. I show dem dot dey don't runs er vay tergeder."

" Phew ! " exclaimed Delarue ; but he said nothing else.

All he had intended to say to the Polak was supplanted by an-
other and more interesting thought. He walked out of the store
and went his way.

52 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER VIII.

A CHEAP TRACT OF LAND.

" The legislature of North Carolina in chartering this place
dubbed it the ' City of Hickory,' but it has no more just claim to be
a city than a barber has to be a machinist."

These were the well weighed remarks of Galen Dalgal, Esquire,
a celebrated attorney and counselor-at-law of that town, which is
in Western North Carolina, to Mr. Emeil Dhumazeil, a well-
known lawyer of New Orleans, Louisiana, who, with his family,
were stopping over a few days in Hickory after having spent the
summer at Blowing Rock and Sparkling Catawba Springs, two
noted summer resorts in that section. These two gentlemen
were engaged in a leisurely afternoon conversation at the untidy
office of the former. Mr. Dalgal had an office full of books and
he was regarded as a lawyer of very considerable ability, but his
office floor was always unswept, being littered with whittlings
from sticks, dirt from men's shoes, and highly stained, if not
polished with tobacco juice. Law books galore, missing from the
shelves and alcoves, lay piled on his desk and the tables in the
two rooms constituting his office. He was a type of a distinctive
character in his peculiarities. He had acquired the appellations
of the dreamer, the village dreamer, and more particularly that
of the lonely, if not lovely, " dreamomaniac."

It came about in this way, to follow the trend or thread of
what could be made an interesting story by a pen guided by a
more facile brain. For instance :

Going down town one morning from his unpretentious board-
ing-house, where he had been taking his meals during several
years, Mr. Dalgal met the mayor of the town and demanded that
he be allowed to repay the five dollars he had borrowed the day
before.

Being informed by the mayor that he had not had the pleasure

A Cheap Tract of Land. 53"

of loaning him five dollars or any other sum the day before, nor
had he seen him the day before, the mayor added :

" You must have dreamed it, Galie."

" Always accusing me of dreaming," shouted Mr. Dagal, as he
went on his way.

But on the very next day Galen Dalgal purchased a horse from
a man who was passing through the town with a drove of horses
and mules and was short five dollars in making payment for the
same. The mayor was standing by Mr. Dalgal's side and loaned
him the necessary money.

This incident exemplifies one of his traits. His " dream " had
not been very far wrong. When he dreamed of some event or an
incident if it had not already taken place it was sure in the future
to transpire, at least in all essential respects, as he had dreamed it
would occur, or had occurred.

" Since it is designated as a city by the proper naming party,"
returned Mr. Dhumazeil, smiling, no doubt, at Mr. Dalgal's
unique simile, while leisurely smoking a cigar and furiously fan-
ning himself with a big palmetto fan and gently swaying in a
rocking-chair, as was also Mr. Dalgal, " the highest in the State,
a city it should be."

" Granted," retorted Dalgal, " as a legal, technical proposition,
but as a practicality and actuality, when a sufficient number of
inhabitants makes it so."

"And so you say you know Alpha Millyard? And that he is
acquiring a good practise in New Orleans?" added Dalgal, re-
verting to part of their preceding remarks. " I am glad to hear
it. When he practised here he and I became warm personal
friends. He is a wonderful man. A brilliant fellow. But he
lacks confidence in himself, though he may overcome that defect,
which, however, is better than being arrogant and self-assumed
in superiority."

" It occurred to me," remarked Mr. Dhumazeil, " that he ap-
peared diffident. But, as you say, he may overcome it. I did not
think him very much given to diffidence when we were arraved
against each other in a very important case."

" Common report says he is to be married to one of the fairest
ladies of our town, city," said Mr. Dalgal.

At that juncture ex-Judge William Buckingham Selia, one of
the leading legal spirits in that whole section of the country, en-
tered the portal of the law offices of Galen Dalgal with a Chester-

54 The Lady of New Orleans.

fielciian bow and a salutation that would have been pleasant to a
reigning prince who wished a favor.

Mr. Dalgal of course presented Judge Selia to Mr. Dhumazeil,
after which the three gentlemen entered into a desultory conver-
sation on various topics, including a parenthetical allusion to
Alpha Millyard.

The latter had practised law in Hickory for a while.

" Judge," said Mr. Dalgal, becoming somewhat facetious of a
sudden, perhaps to enliven the lagging conversation, " were you
in earnest about offering me that tract of land out here in the
country for my horse and buggy and sixty-five dollars ? "

" The land sakes ! Which tract of land, and when ? " replied
the erudite, battle-scarred old lawyer, whose love for wit and
humor was even more keenly developed than was that of the old
bachelor, Mr. Dalgal.

" O, that tract of unprofitable mountain land in the woods over
in Alexander county," replied Dalgal more earnestly. ' That
tract you got for your fee in the Hallowell case at the last term
of court. You told me the other day you wanted to sell it to me
for my old horse and buggy and sixty-five dollars, provided 1
would also marry Miss Lucilla Helms. Speaking of Alpha Mill-
yard reminds me of it."

" I do not remember the conversation or call to mind the pro-
posal," answered Judge Buckingham Selia, with a slight twitch
of his right leg as he balanced it over the other knee and twirled
his ample deer-horn- handled walking cane, adding : " This world
is all a fleeting shore and many sands upon it, although not to
man's illusion given to man 'tis still alluring. Galie, old dreaming
chum, if you dreamed I said I would do it I'll stick to the dream-
bargain. The terms of your dream : Cash down and fork it
over? If so, make out the papers. I'll sign the deed. Send your
old circuit riding horse and circus buggy down to my stable and
hand over the sixty-five dollars. It is a trade. You can't be any
too quick about it. But, Galie, does Miss Helms agree?"

" See here, Judge," said Dalgal, " I have spat on the bare floor
but three times this week, but I hit the crack every time.
And "

"Which floor, Galie?" interrupted Judge Selia, looking as-
kance at the floor.

" O, I have been here so long I can tell where the cracks are,"
quickly retorted Dalgal. " Nor, as I was going on to say. have

A Cheap Tract of Land. 55

I placed either one of my feet directly across a line in six months,
but have invariably stepped over the line or crack ; besides, I have
put on my socks wrongside out twice during the last two weeks
without knowing it at the time. If that does not augur good
luck, what does? Besides, I saw Miss Helms last night and she
consented." .

" You were at the city council meeting last night early and re- \
mained until council adjourned at eleven o'clock," announced
Judge Selia solemnly. "What time other than that did you see
her last night, Galie? "

" It must have been the night before when I saw her then,"
replied Mr. Dalgal, abstractedly.

" You were at the mayor's residence discussing with him about
your old puritanical ordinances," said the Judge.

" Well, she consented, and that's enough for me to know," re-
torted Dalgal somewhat hotly.

" You and her for that ; it was you who suggested the trade,"
replied Judge Selia. " Come bv my office and get the papers
and draw up^the deed for me. I'll do anything you say."

" To encourage you in your bargain, Mr. Dalgal," interposed
Mr. Dhumazeil, " I can say, but with no intent to prejudice or
alarm you about your friend, I have heard that Mr. Millyard is
in some kind of trouble in New Orleans, but I do not know its ex-
act nature or to what extent."

Next day the deed to the land was signed by Judge Selia and
his wife and the transfers of property and money made according
to agreement. Mr. Galen Dalgal, who was a man exceedingly
well learned in the law but impractical as an advocate before a
court, became the owner in fee simple of three hundred and
eighty-four acres of mountain land in Alexander county, the
county adjoining on the north of that county in which Hickory
was situated. All that remained of the trade, as made, to be done
was the performance of the unwritten part, which was for Mr.
Galen Dalgal to be united in marriage to Miss Lucilla Helms.
This might require weeks or months or no time. Mr. Dalgal was
a fast man, however. He acknowledged himself the owner of
land that was mountainous, it was true, but he had conceived or
dreamed that it contained mineral ores galore. Better still, there
was for him the prospective bride, even if he was somewhat bald
on the head and past the forty-mile post on the race-track of
life.

56 The Lady of New Orleans.

Xext day Mr. Dalgal was seated in his office engaged in con-
templating his future when Judge Selia suddenly entered.

"Hello, Judge, what's up? Anything wrong?" quickly
queried Dalgal, pointing to a rocker.

" Nothing serious, Galie; only a social call. I was afraid you
might take the blues and want to rue your bargain.''

" I guess the old land is worth as much as I paid you for it. I
will not regret the trade if I can get the fair lady.

" By the way, I wonder what can be the trouble with Alpha
Millyard? That gentleman from New Orleans has excited my
curiosity. He himself did not seem to know. It has been prey-
ing on my mind. I was thinking of it all day and last night. I
guess Miss Lucilla may know."

" Suppose you ask her, Galie? " suggested the Judge, jestingly.

" All things work out a man's own way, if he be only persist-
ent," said Mr. Dalgal, dryly. " But that reminds me of an old
story and therefore good by being old."

"What is it? Let it out," said the Judge.

" There was a big fat man standing on an old wooden bridge
spanning a large creek which the people called a river because it
was wide during high water and had a wide marshy swamp on
both sides. Arching limbs of trees .swung over the water from
both banks. The man was leaning over the wooden railing gaz-
ing intently at the lazily rolling waters, apparently in deep medita-
tion. Perhaps he was experiencing some trouble from his break-
fast. Stealthily there approached him a tall, cadaverous man,
thin in form and visage, long peaked nose, large, round wild-look-
ing blue eyes, long frock coat, big white cravat, wearing a broad-
brimmed sombrero, a decidedly clerical looking person. He halted
near the fat man and in solemn somber tones asked the question :
' My friend, what thinkest thou ? ' Slowly raising his elbows from
the railing and turning, facing the inquiring stranger, the fat man
replied: 'I was just thinking about them darned eggs. How
will you have your eggs ? ' Evidently the clerical-looking man
did not relish the attempt, though weak, at profanity. He gently
waved his open hand, elevated his head and eyes and marched
slowly on across the bridge without deigning to reply.

" Twenty years afterwards to a day the fat man happened to
be at the same place in the same position again. The same sad-
eyed, pallid-faced, clerical-looking nightmare approached again
in the same stealthy way as before. Halting, as the fat man

A Cheap Tract of Land. 57

raised his head, he half hissed : ' Scrambled,' then quietly marched
on across the bridge.

' Judge, I am going to tell Miss Lucilla I will take my eggs
scrambled. I have wanted her ever since I've known her."

" Now, Galie ; don't make a bad break and shift your wind."

" Goo — goo — good even', squire," said a florid-faced, auburn-
haired, tatter-clothed, coatless, stammering man as he entered
and interrupted Mr. Dalgal and Judge Selia.

" Hello, George ; you are the very man I want to see," said
Dalgal.

George Peavy was the loiterer and chore-server of the town.
He made himself useful in doing all sorts of odd jobs and some
that were not so odd. He had a habit, yes, habit, of overdoing the
matter and himself whenever he could obtain the wherewithal,
the whisky. He drank it as a mere pastime. Sometimes his
treasury enabled him to get more than he could " tote," as he
expressed it.

"All r-r-right, Squire," replied George. "What's up?"

" I bought a tract of land from Judge Selia over in Alexander,"
said Dalgal. " I want you to go over there and examine it for
me. See what it is good for and what you think it is worth."

" Er-er-er-you know I think Lum Lester's the best po-po-po-
liceman in town. When I get d-d-d-drunk all the others lock me
up, b-b-but Lum hauls me home in a whe-wheelbarrow."

" You have not told me whether you will go."

' Ye-ye-yes, I'll go; but ca-ca-can't Lum go with me? "

" Lum ? " sarcastically and yet flatteringly demanded Mr.
Dalgal. " What does he know about geology and mineral lands ?
Why don't you take Mooney ? "

" Moo-Moo-oo-ny ? He'll do ; he knows. He's a reg'ler g-g-g-
g'olergist an' knows all 'bout minerls. Sh-sh-shall I take 'im?"
replied George in speech as rapid as he could, his hat in hand.

" Yes. I want you to start in the morning," replied Dalgal,
rubbing the lone red tuft on his otherwise bald head with a red
bandanna. " You can go in my carriage ; John will drive you.
You see Mooney and both of you be on hand early in the morn-

mg.

Mooney was regarded as a supernatural or sort of psycholog-
ical geologist, or any other kind of diviner of what was hidden in
the earth. He told the people where to dig wells to find good
water, and where asbestos, mica and graphite were to be found.

58 The Lady of New Orleans.

His reputation was great in this respect. It was well that Mr.
Dalgal chanced to think of him.

Mooney was called " Mooney " for a singular reason. He was
a singular man, a most extraordinary man. He had no father
irom whom to inherit a name, so in his youth when it was ascer-
tained that he could not see, had no vision only in the dark and not .
in daylight, he was given that name by common usage. He was
a freak of nature, or rather nature made a freak of him. His
eyes were large and round and had two little hazel rings on each
black pupil surrounding the cornea.

His family history said that his mother was fearfully fright-
ened during the period of his gestation in a most remarkable man-
ner and which was the cause of his exceptional phenomena.

His mother told it that she was sleeping on her back porch,
which " porch " consisted of a few plank boards with a shed over
them attached to a one-room shack situated in the woods next to
a swamp, when she was awakened by some one yelling to her in
a loud voice, saying : " Who, who, who, who are you ? "

Opening her eyes quickly on awakening she beheld two enor-
mous lights on the baluster railing within four feet of her head.
The great terrible-looking monster stretched forth tremendous
long arms, made a great noise and dashed at her. She screamed,
then swooned. That was the last thing she knew for two days.
When found by a person passing she was nearly dead.

The apparition was not a fallacy ; it was a huge owl, not one
of those hooting owls either, but was larger — one of those tre-
mendous " who, who, who, who are you " kind. But the bird
meant no harm, was harmless. In fact, the owl was afraid of the
woman and flew when she opened her eyes.

It was this episode that was said to be responsible fo'r the physi-
cal appearance and mental depth and bent of Mooney. He could
perambulate but little in the daytime on account of inability to
see, but in the night or dark he could see as well as other persons
do in the daylight.

The strangest phenomena of all with regard to this monstrous
human being was his ability to see in the ground at night. This,
however, had to be under certain conditions.

Mooney, who had been left to the care of the world by his
mother in his infancy, she not being able to take care even of her-
self, was the man through whom Mr. Dalgal expected to see what
was in the ground of the mountains of Alexander which he re-
cently purchased from Judge William Buckingham Selia.

Dalgal, The Dreamomaniac. 59

CHAPTER IX.

DALGAL, THE DREAMOMANIAC.

Miss Lucilla Helms, who was not over twenty-four summers,
was a woman of charming personality. Not what the generality
of men regard as being beautiful, yet she was very much admired
by men. Her chief attractiveness tonsisted in high-bred, gentle
manners.

Her father had skipped about the country with his family in the
pursuit of his avocation, and in the course of his career had re-
sided at Atlanta, at Louisville and at other places, and was then
residing at Hickory. Mr. Alpha Millyard, as he himself had said,
had been " a follower of the lamb."

Mr. Galen Dalgal had been very assiduous in his attentions to
Miss Helms during several years and more especially subsequent
to the departure of Alpha Millyard from Hickory. But for rea-
sons unknown to the public or even to their nearest friends his
courtship had not developed tangibly. Their friends wondered
why this was the case. Mr. Dalgal was a fine catch, if he was an
old bachelor. He was well-to-do and was a superior lawyer.

After the trade with Judge Sella it became incumbent upon
Mr. Dalgal to force his intentions and aspirations with regard
to Miss Lucilla to a direct and speedy issue. To this end he
formed and expressed an opinion. It was that she should marry
him at once.

Immediately after Judge Selia left, Mr. Dalgal wrote a note to
Miss Helms requesting the pleasure to call and see her that eve-
ning. He despatched the note through the medium and courtesy
of his office-boy. In reply he was respectfully and regretfully
informed in a note through the same channel that Miss Helms
had a previous engagement for the evening, but she naively in-
corporated the suggestion that she would " be pleased to see
Squire Dalgal at any other time, say, to-morrow evening."

Next morning immediately after opening his law offices Mr.

60 The Lady of New Orleans.

Dalgal rushed in great hurry to the law office of ex-Judge Wm.
Buckingham Selia. Grasping the Judge by the hand, Dalgal ex-
claimed :

" The last of the terms of our contract are to be complied
with before the waning of the moon. It's a sure pop, Judge."

"When d'd you arrange it, Galie? Plant yourself in that
chair and tell me all about it."

" Last night," replied Dalgal, gleefully, as he sank to a seat
in a rocking-chair.

"Great snakes, Galie! My son told me he saw you at the
opera-house last night and that you were alone. He also said
Miss Helms was there with Tom Critchton."

" Let me see," said Dalgal, pulling his stubby, short-cropped,
sandy-colored mustache, " where was it? I forget. I had a long
talk with her somewhere. She told me Alpha Millyard had been
arrested in New Orleans on a charge of abducting a woman or
girl, and was having a lot of trouble. In fact, that he had been
arrested two or three times and was himself abducted and then
apprehended in the company of the young woman he had ab-
ducted. This, you will observe, is in conformity with what Mr.
Dhumazeil -told us. It will, of course, break up any matrimonial
arrangements that may have existed between Miss Lucilla Helms
and Mr. Alpha Millyard. Not, however, that I wish Mr. Mill-
yard any harm. But it comes in very apropos in furtherance of
my aspirations."

" All right, you unterrified dreamer." responded the ex-Judge,
" just dream on. I wish you well. You have my deed in fee
simple to the old mountain rocks and lands, and I have your circus
team and money. If you fail to get the wife it will be no fault of
mine."

" I am sure it is all right, but if I do not get her, what then ? "

" You will lose a refined and highly cultured woman for a wife,
that's all," replied Judge Selia.

" But will you make claim for a rescinding of the title to the
lands?" earnestly inquired Mr. Dalgal, that being the point he
seemed interested in most deeply.

" I will not try to enforce it in the courts of law, Galie. I will
leave it to your honor," said the Judge.

" Some one told me it is the richest gold mine lands in the
world," carelessly remarked Dalgal, demonstrating no more re-
gard for Judge Selia's carpet matting than for his own bare office

Dalgal, The Dreamomaniac. 61

floor. " Besides," he continued, " there is a green diamond in
the rocks down in the ground that is worth more than diamonds,
and enough of them to cover two feet deep a ten-acre pasture."

" Great Kaiser i You prolific dreamer! " shouted Judge Selia.
" Xo ; I take that back. I guess Mooney saw them. No ; that's
not tenable. Mooney hasn't got there. I stick to the dream."
He hesitated, then added :

"If that is the case I shall have to hold you strictly to the
bargain — a pound of flesh. The contract,, Galie, the contract.
The woman's in the bargain. Do you know that what everybody
says is so, is true? You are a dreamomaniac. You go to sleep,
or half asleep, and then dream just exactly what you want; that
is, about events which you already have in your mind even in de-
ta'l just as you would have them be, in the manner as if they
had actually happened or transpired, and then when you wake up
you caress the delusion and make yourself believe that what you
have dreamed is actually true. Galie, it will ruin your mind.
Quit the habit ; it is nearly as bad as being a kleptomaniac."

" How is it possible for a man to dream in any such manner as
you say? " sharply retorted Dalgal. " That would be equal to the
task of manufacturing dreams to order. I deny the allegation. I
never heard of such a thing before."

" Have you never heard before that you were a dreamo-
maniac ? " asked Judge Selia.

' I never heard before of any such dreamomaniacal nonsense,"
replied Galen Dalgal, rising abruptly to depart.

" All right, Galie, keep it up, keep it up. You are the boss. I
do not wish to discourage you. Dream some for me."

' This is a serious matter," said Dalgal in a high-toned voice as
he advanced to the Judge's office door. " If it is an infirmity of
my brain I must make the best of it. Meantime I fail to see that
there is in it any room for levity. If they are somnolent visions,
sign-boards to guide me in the proper path, I trust I am prepared
to be clearly guided and to fully appreciate the guidance.

" I want to say this : If these things do come true, I wish to
engage your services as my attorney at an annual salary. Good
morning." He was cutting, in his parting thrust.

Red-headed Galen Dalgal, Esquire, could not have wished him-
self any greater success in fortune than this conversation por-
tended,

62 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER X.

ALPHA AND BERTHA AT PILOT TOWN.

When the steamer Hilda reached Pilot Town, having passed
Quarantine, both Miss Bertha Rosenstin and Mr. Alpha Millyard
were demanded and received by the officer of the law stationed
at that place. The goodly dispositioned officer took them from
the steamer in midstream and carried them in a yawl to his
house.

. Pilot Town is built on stilts. It is on a delta or strip of made
land just above the bar on the east side of the Pass il 'Outre
channel of the many " passes " of the mighty Mississippi river.
The houses are high above the ground so as to be above high
water. In low, or normal, condition of the river and the tide,
canals take the place of streets. They are laid off as streets and
in squares. In front of the houses are plank platform walks
from the houses on an even line with the doors out to the wooden
steps leading down to the water. The houses set back from the
streets or canals and generally are on a line with each other. Con-
venient to the steps on one side of the walk or the other are high
posts to which, at the top, are attached long iron chains, the use
of which are to fasten the boats and yawls so they may not under
influence of the waters wander never to return. The pilots, those
who pilot the hundreds and hundreds of ocean-^oin<r vessels
bound to or from New Orleans and every other port in the world,
inhabit, with their families, these houses on stilts.

" Here, you k'n go inter this 'ere room," said the polite and ac-
commodating police officer of Pilot Town, who had intercepted,
officially, Miss Bertha and Mr. Millyard. It was seldom he had
any official duties to perform, and, therefore, for that reason prob-
ably he was polite and courteous in the discharge of his duty. It
was this or the lady in the case made him polite and courteous, at
least on this occasion. As he made this invitation the officer

Alpha and Bertha at Pilot Town. 63

opened the door to a neatly furnished room on the second floor.
As they walked in he added:

" I'll fetch yer some water'n a few minits. It'll be three hours
or more 'fore dinner'll be ready." The officer went out, closing
the door behind him.

Mr. Millyard, standing in the center of the room, was holding
his hands and arms akimbo. His slender form seemed to
lengthen out a few fractions of an inch, if not an inch, as his
hands fell flap and limp by his sides and in a surprised look and
disgusted manner he sharply said :

" Good gracious, Miss Bertha ; what does this mean ? "

" I have it not in me to retort in kind," replied Bertha, some-
what gently in tone and manner, and advancing toward him in
a pleading attitude. " If you are ignorant in this affair you are
not any more so than am I. Therefore, I will not ask you the
same question for an answer."

" The man evidently thinks we are married," said Alpha. " His
supply of imagination is warranted no doubt by the chain of cir-
cumstances, if not by the fact. I have a ween that it has become
known to my friends in town and to your irascible father that we
are on the same boat bound for a foreign port and the police au-
thorities have ordered our arrest and return to the city. This
officer has jumped at the conclusion that we are running away,
an eloping married couple, and hence placed us in the same room
as such."

" Goodness! If it was with any other man I would be afraid.

But with you " Bertha had just placed her hands on Mr.

Millyard's shoulders as she said this when the door was opened
by the Pilot Town officer without rapping a signal, having in his
hand a pitcher of water.

' Yer needn't be grievin'," he said ; " there shan't no harm
come ter yer. I know all 'bout how 'tis. Mag and me had ter
run er-way. Yes, bless yer ; we symperthise wid yer."

" I suppose you had orders by telegraph to arrest us ? " asked
Millyard, loosening himself from Bertha.

" One telegram told me ter 'rest the man, Mister — er — ah —
Millyard, an' send 'im back ; and t'other one said git the woman
an' send 'er back on ther first vess'l. An' that's what I've done,
an' that's what I'm goin' ter do. But that's all I got ter do wid it.
Because t'otherwise I'm wid yer." He walked to the room door,
and, looking back at the forlorn couple before leaving, added :

64 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Dinner'll be ready at one er clock. Hit'll be six er clock
'fore ther's any vess'l goin' up you k'n go on."

Millyard advanced to the window on the south from which he
could look out over the broad expanse of the Gulf of Mexico as
far as vision would admit.

The canal or street fronting the house he was in ran east and
west. Across the street or canal were other pilot men's houses,
and on the few more squares further on were houses between
him and the waters of the Gulf.

The balize, the great balize, the wide, the unbounded mouth, or
enormous mouths of the mighty Mississippi river, called
" passes," stretching out almost in continuous succession, being
one mouth only and, save when a high river and tide are simul-
taneous, or when the great river is unusually high. It is then the
deltas are submerged and the river becomes one hundred and
sixty miles in width. It is when the river is unusually high that
it amazes and astounds by the sublimity and grandeur of its vast-
ness. A moving, rushing ocean. No wonder the houses are
built high on stilts.

Viewing this grand scene Alpha Millyard was thinking:

" Has this young woman been wantonly placed in my path to
tempt me to ruin? Whatever the 'world may say, Dick Yay or
Mister Nay, I will not. I will not. So help me God, I will not."

Turning and facing Bertha, who had walked up and clasped
her hands over one of his shoulders, he said :

" Miss Bertha, I would not deny it and endeavor to prove it. I
am being sorely tried. But I cannot under any circumstances
permit you the belief or idea that I will marry you, for such can
never be the case. It is utterly outside the pale of my consider-
ation."

" Mr. Millyard," said Bertha, sternly, facing him with flashing
gleams from her large, brown, penetrating eyes, " I have told you
that I love you. That is as much as I or any woman can acknowl-
edge to any man. It is the dearest secret of a woman's heart. T
am impelled to love you, whether you love me in return or not. I
trust you — a gentleman — can have consideration for me sufficient
that you will not be so cruel as to break my heart."

" Break your heart ? No, my dear girl. But you must under-
stand, I am already engaged. Do you wish to break mine ? "

" Not for the world," she exclaimed, casting her plump, well-
rounded arms around his neck.

Alpha and Bertha at Pilot Town. 65

" Then do not build hopes on my marrying you," quickly re-
plied Millyard, removing her arms and turning aside. Then
quickly turning and glancing at her as she stood in an attitude of
despair, he added, as if addressing her :

" Bertha "

On the instant she threw herself upon him in full force, body,
yea, soul, exclaiming :

" Alpha, my God, let me love you."

" By the eternals, upon my honor as a gentleman, I give
you my consent. But," and Mr. Millyard suddenly became
stern, " you must not presume too far. As I told you, I am
engaged to another whom I have, by my feelings, been
led to believe I do love. She is the dearest, sweetest woman
whom I know. I have loved her from my youngest boy-
hood, when, as children lovers she playfully pushed me off a foot-
bridge into a branch, then endeared herself to me by thrusting a
shingle, or perhaps it was a lath, to my rescue as the highly
swollen waters of the stream were bearing me onward across the
street below the bridge. She rushed off the bridge when she had
shoved me off above it and I went under with the torrent, and
hurrying in the street she fortunately found the lath in her path
which she stretched forth to me as I was rolling on the topmost
waves and pulled me out just before I reached the fence, where
the branch fell into a big ditch extending through a field to the
woods. Had I gone in there I would have drowned. Thus she
saved my life. I had already given her a finger ring which was
the heirloom and symbol of our family.

Bertha Rosenstin had shrank backward during these remarks
until she sat composedly on the side cf the lone bed in the cham-
ber. When he had come to his period she placidly assayed to re-
mark, with much wisdom :

" If we try to explain to this man our true predicament it will
only result in exposing us to his and other people's obloquy, each
alike, and neither the better ; and, the result will be the same, we
still explaining. So I think we may just as well take things easy
as they are until fate, and the law, shall deal so gently that we
may part, as we should desire, in peace if not in love."

" Bertha, you almost break the bonds between desire, the fruc-
tified hope of man, and self-domineered resolution to withstand,
yea, stolidly, solidly resist and successfully repel temptation to
commit what God and man calls evil. But whether or not

66 The Lady of New Orleans.

there be for me a mission in life I am determined no act of mine
shall bar-sinister me from heaven or entail upon my progeny the
scriptural curse to the third or fourth generation. In other
words, I desire no descendants by whom I may be cursed."

" Mr. Millyard," she said, cupping her two little hands ex-
tended toward him, " Do you doubt me ? "

" Great Scott ! Doubt you ! How ? In what way ? Me doubt
you? I have no reason, or room to doubt you. I am "

" A lover without having the soul of a lover," Bertha quickly
said, taking up by interruption the thread of his remarks, but
which was not his thread.

" Yes ; I guess I am a lover. I love," he said, then turning
toward the window and gazing out over the gulf again, he slowly
continued : " But the one I love has a white oak in place of a
hickory for a fact instead of a name, in front of her home ; and I
hope that some day I shall be happy with her in a home of my
own."

" Dreamer, the sweetest ideal of dreamers. How can I un-
rhapsodize my words and meaning in consonance to meet the
sure and strident feeling that I also am a lover without a lover,
and feel more intensely the keenness of the tilt that takes from
me my lover, the ideal of my love, he whom I love, to make it
surely understood that he has no greater lover ? O bourne !
sweet solace of bliss ! whence art thou and why am I not one of
thine? Mr. Millyard — but listen, there comes the man."

Bertha Rosenstin should have been an actress, she was an
actress off the stage.

The noise Bertha said she heard was a false alarm, so far as
having reference to them.

" Mr. Millyard, do you fail to comprehend that the more we
try to explain this matter to that simple but kind-natured man
the worse we will make it?" inquired Bertha in tones of voice
ranging from sharp flat in soprano to deep contralto. Then, al-
though he attempted to reply, she added :

" It is but natural, under the circumstances, that this officer of
the law should place us in the same room together. Don't you
think so? If I can afford to remain in this room with you should
you, a gentleman, blast us by a demastus and deny us the fruits
of the role ? "

" Bertha, dear woman, I am in trouble. I am — there's some
one at the door."

Roomed Together. 67

CHAPTER XI.

ROOMED TOGETHER.

" Dinner's ready," said a sweet voice, as a little girl opened
the door, and then disappeared.

" Bertha," said Millyard, advancing toward the door, " I am in
trouble enough, let's go to dinner. I do not see my way out. It
is all on your account. Here I am kidnapped, placed on board a
vessel bound for a foreign port ; have not even a change of cloth-
ing and not a cent of money "

" I have money, I told you," she interrupted, advancing toward
him at the door, " and you shall have it all and more besides."

" But you, as well as myself," he retorted, going outside into
the hallway, she following, " are to be returned from whence we
came, perhaps I to prison. I am not prepared to endure any just
punishment."

" Dear, charming man ; you have my heart and soul. I love
you now more than ever." Walking up by his side as they ad-
vanced to the head of the stairway she put one arm upon his
shoulder, continuing : ' You do not dislike me, are not -dis-
pleased with me because I love you ? '"

" Good gracious ! sweet girl, no. That is one thing that stirs a
man's soul as well as his blood — for a handsome young woman to
love him. I would love you if I could. As I told vou, I love an-
other."

" You shall not have another love, a greater love than you can
have for me." Saying this she shoved him from her, exhibit-
ing the deepest human passion, jealousy, and a spirit of revenge.
Still they continued together toward the dining-room.

" I will come and cook for you, do anything for you so I can
be near where you are and can see you," appealingly and pathet-
cally said Bertha as he was nearing the dining-room door and
she close behind.

68 The Lady of New Orleans.

He did not reply. They entered the dining-room and took
seats beside each other.

Mr. Millyard chanced to engage in conversation with a gen-
tleman who sat opposite to him at the table. He was Captain
Collins, the U. S. officer and engineer in charge of the survey
and soundings at the mouth of the Mississippi river. Sound-
ings had to be made daily in the passes and over the bars because
the current was so treacherous and shifting that the channel must
needs be pointed out, or indicated to the pilots at every change.
A small steam launch was kept there for the purpose. This lit-
tle affair had been dubbed " Collins' Ram."

Captain Collins invited Mr. . Millyard to become his guest on
a sounding expedition during the afternoon. It was such an op-
portunity as thousands of men would have craved, and was not to
be put aside by Mr. Millyard, and he readily accepted.

" You are not going to leave me are you, Mr. Millyard ? " in-
quired Miss Bertha as they were returning to their room. " I
shall be dreadfully lonely without you ; besides, I am afraid this
is some scheme for you to be rid of me."

" If it is I know nothing of it, Bertha. We are going out there
on the gulf just across the bar," said Millyard, pointing out at the
south window in their room, " so Captain Collins said. Of
course this officer will require him to bring me back in time for
him to put me on board the first passenger steamer going up. He
said that would be nearly night."

" I am going too," she asserted. " I can't stay here by my-
self."

" But you were going to Havre without me."

" I wanted to get away from my unnatural father and that foul
stepmother. I was forced to go."

" Can you not be as considerate about matters under other cir-
cumstances ? "

" This is different. I had not been with you then as I am with
you now. Since I have confided my heart and all my love to you
the fright is gone and I want you near me all the time."

" We can talk to-night on board the steamer. It is a hundred
miles up to New Orleans, and we will be on board until six or
seven o'clock in the morning."

Mr. Millyard had the opportunity of one man in fifty million
in a double lifetime and he was determined to take advantage of
it. Besides, the reasoning of his philosophy at the time was an-

Roomed Together. 69

tagonistic to his remaining in that room with the young woman
during that afternoon.

" I will be so lone " She was interrupted by a gentle knock

at their chamber door.

" Come in," cried Millyard.

" Capt'n Collins with 'is ram's ready 'n waitin' fer yer ter take
ther cruise," said the polite, if rough officer as he half-opened
the door and stood therein.

" All right, Mr. Officer, I am coming."

" Please don't go," beseeched Bertha, following Millyard. She
began sobbing and, halting, buried her face in her handkerchief.
Suddenly she drew herself up at full stature as if in great passion,
shouting :

" Where's my trunk ? "

The sympathetic officer, holding the door with one hand and
placing the other akimbo, said :

" That's so, madam. Did you have a trunk? "

" Of course I did," exclaimed Bertha, rather snappishly.

" I might er knowd yer did," he replied placatingly. " No
woman leaves home without 'er trunk, even ef she is'n a hurry.
But why didn't yer have it took off 'n ther Hilda ? "

" I never thought of it until now," retorted Bertha. Then she
sank down on the floor in a fit of hysterics, exclaiming:

" I want my trunk. I must have my trunk. All my precious
things are in my trunk. Get my trunk."

Her voice died away. She had swooned.

Millyard, assisted by the officer, lifted Bertha from the floor
and placed her on the bed.

" Hold up, young man, till I run git the camphire an' fetch the
ole 'oman." Saying this the officer rushed out of the room.

Millyard was leaning over Bertha gently rubbing her fore-
head with the palm of his hand when the officer returned with the
camphor accompanied by his ole 'oman.

Millyard filled the palm of one hand with camphor and sousing
it on the girl's forehead laved it down over her face.

" Goodness sakes ! man ; that ain't the way," exclaimed the ole
'oman. " Put it to 'er nose."

Millyard had adopted, unwittingly, however, the speedier
method of restoration. As soon as the camphor got into Bertha's
eyes she opened them and jumped with a whoop. Millyard
stood back. The ole 'oman wiped the girl's eyes at the intervals

70 The Lady of New Orleans.

when Bertha was not endeavoring to gouge them out with her
fists.

" Where am I ? " asked Bertha in a strange voice. Then
glancing in a wild stare at Mr. Millyard she exclaimed : " You
here, Mr. Millyard? I thought they had you in prison."

" Gracious," yelled Millyard. " I wonder if she has lost her
mind? Give her some more camphor."

The good old woman commenced administering the camphor
in more moderate and business like doses and in a more rational
way.

Captain Collins sent word by one of the children that- he could
not wait any longer. Millyard said he would come immediately.
Bertha overheard him. She cried out :

' Please don't leave me." Then she fainted again.

The little steam launch " Collins' Ram," as they called the
craft, went about three miles due south of pass I' outre bar where
Captain Collins, aided by two assistants, commenced taking
soundings and recording them in a book for the purpose. From
thence they proceeded on a due course back toward the bar.

After a while the craft was suddenly struck sideways by a high
sea. The huge waves rolled over the little sea-going screw
steamer, completely enveloping it for several seconds at a time on
four or five occasions in rather quick succession. But the little
thing, like a cork, shot from under very quickly. Captain Col-
lins and his crew took it calmly and quite coolly. But it was a
new and fresh, if not also refreshing, experience for Millyard.

The waves could be seen as they were coming one after another,
through the thick glass windows at the sides of the lone cabin
room. When the waves became so low that the little ram could
ride them, from their crest Millyard could look down on Pilot
Town two miles or more away and he consoled himself with the
brilliant reflection that God is good and Man is a genius.

Captain Collins, observing three or four tugs putting out to sea
from the east side of Pilot Town three miles or more from them,
remarked :

" The boys in the tower have sighted a craft. She'll be here
in about three hours, or less. We must hurry back and put you
to your berth on shore."

After cruising tortuously about the bar Captain Collins finally
landed Millyard at the home of the officer of the law.

Bertha had recovered from her attack of tantrums and was as

Roomed Together. 71

vivacious as if she were not passing through an ordeal. The
only disturber of her equanimity being shown in her lamentations
for her trunk.

The Pilot Town officer of the law came into the. room where
were Miss Bertha and Millyard, with a long spy-glass in hand
and said :

" Now le's see which one er the boys '11 git 'er." He placed
the glass to his eyes and looking out through the window, which
had been raised all day ; he scanned the gulf during a few mo-
ments, then said :

" Ah, there she is. Now vou k'n look right where I'm holdin'

it-"

Bertha, who had been addressed, took the glass and looking a

moment or two observed :

" O, yes, I see it. Those tugs are making right for it."

" Uv course they ar'. An' the fust one whut gits there, or

speaks to 'er, as the sayin' is '11 be the one whut'll take 'er ter

ther wharf up-town."

His explanation being clear enough it now came Millyard's

turn to look. He proceeded with great complacency to make the

observation. He had been out to sea, if it was in Collins' Ram.

He remarked :

" The tugs are approaching very near to her now."

Taking the glasses and looking, the bluff old gulf-stager said :

" O, they're two miles apart yit. But yer see they're meetin' ;

so 'twon't be so long. Bill Temple's ahead, way head. He'll git

'er; he's skimmin' the foam." The old fellow continued to hold

the glasses and was in a glow of excitement. Presently he said :

" Xow she's slowin'. Be gosh! Bill's got 'er." He lowered the

glass with a sigh and turning to Bertha continued : " Now I

reckon he k'n pay me that are five'er 'e horrid Saturday night.

You see, Bill's bin kinder lazy here lately 'n got berhind."

About half an hour later, or after sunset the big steamer had

crossed the bar and halted, or come as near halting as it could,

opposite the Pilot Town officer's house. Bertha and Millyard

had been rowed out near midstream and were put on board.

The officer made whatever arrangements that were necessary,

with the Captain of the steamer for him to take the couple up to

the city.

The embarkation and the making of the arrangements all had

to be done very quickly, as the steamer did not entirely cease to

move.

72 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XII.

IN THE SAME CABIN-ROOM.

Beautiful visions, fairy-like images floated in Bertha Rosen -
stin's fancy. She was as cheerful as a chirping cricket, or critic.
She loved Mr. Millyard and if he would not marry her, nor take
her to him willingly, she had the object in view of forcing such
a condition.

" By all the saints and martyrs too, Miss Bertha, Fate, or some
other untoward influence is bent on forcing us together," ex-
claimed Millyard, having returned from the Purser's desk to
where Bertha was seated on a wicker lounge in the ladies' saloon.
' In many contests have I engaged but never one against my will
before. Were I on the other tack I believe upon my soul I
would with opposition be beset. This looks to me like a put-up
job ; we are assigned to the same cabin-room."

" Ah, indeed, is that so strange ? " said Bertha, indifferently,
tossing her superb head to one side and carefully resting her
folded hands in her ample lap. " Did you not consider that the
kind-hearted officer would inform the Captain that we are an
intercepted runaway married couple being returned to New
Orleans ? For what good was the officer, if not to give such in-
formation? I see no other course but to make the best of our
bargain. If you object now, you only subject your own self to
the obloquy of deserting a helpless woman at the last moment in
extremity."

' I will remain right here all night," exclaimed Millyard, seat-
ing himself heavily on the wicker sofa and thrusting his hands
deeply in his trousers' pockets.

' Will you be permitted to do so? " inquired Bertha with some
show of asperity.

"If not, as a last resort I will tell the clerk we are not man and
wife and demand a separate room."

" If you have no money how will you pay for it? Besides, that

In the Same Cabin-Room. 73

is the very thing, as I said, which will be more your undoing
than mine.

' I do not intend to remain at my father's home with him and'
that awful stepmother of mine ; I will leave at the very first op-
portunity. If you do not let me gO' with you I do not care what
becomes of me."

" If your irascible, ill-bred father meets us before we land, or
learns afterward that we occupied the same cabin-room during
this night he will have me. sent to the Parish prison in spite of all
creation. I cannot face that ordeal. I have enough trouble. In
fact it is quite probable that both of us will be arrested any way
as soon as this steamer arrives at her landing."

' Ye's, that would be just like father, he is so mean to me and
allows that stepmother to treat me so cruelly. If some one does
not meet me at the wharf I will not go home. I'll go with you."

" Bertha, can you not perceive the futility of hoping for such
a procedure as that? Go to Parish prison immediately? Not I.
That is what it would mean. That would be the upshot even,
were I to be apprehended in your company. You surely do not
desire me imprisoned?"

" No. never! " she exclaimed passionately. " I had rather be
imprisoned myself."

' Then you should be sufficiently discreet so that I may not be
imperiled," replied Millyard.

" I will not go to father's home," she cried.

' What is Hecuba to me, or I to Hecuba ? " said Millyard non-
chalantly, gazing across the saloon.

The great steamer landed at Quarantine ; then, after consider-
able delay, sped on again.

The saloon had been crowded with passengers during the fore-
part of the- evening, but was then almost deserted. It was nearing
midnight.

After awhile a woman approached Millyard, but addressing
herself more directly to Bertha, said :

" I will show you to your cabin-room."

" We are not sleepy," said Millyard.

" Passengers are expected to retire by twelve o'clock," said the
maid.

' But you have only one berth for us," persisted Millyard,
showing no sign of complying with the rules of the boat.

" There happens to be two berths, in your room," retorted the

74 The Lady of New Orleans.

maid, as she took the shawl from Bertha, who arose and started
with her.

When they had moved a few paces Bertha turned and looking
back at Millyard peremptorily commanded :

" Come along." Demurely or not, he slowly followed.

The door of the cabin-room was opened by the maid, who
said :

" There, you can see you have two berths."

Bertha walked inside. Millyard halted at the door.

" Come in," said Bertha, testily.

Alternatives were not for discussion by Millyard at that junc-
ture. In he went. The maid, who was outside, closed the door.
Bertha, on the inside, bolted it.

There were two chairs in the room. Millyard seated himself
in one of them. Finally Bertha occupied the other. At length
Millyard, who had his chin resting in one hand and his elbow in
the other hand, glanced at Bertha and blurted out :

' What a howling bust ! Miss Bertha, this is awful ! "

1 Yes ; but it might be worse," she calmly replied.

' Well ; if we are compelled to remain in here together I will
climb up-stairs ; you can remain down here," said Millyard with
much earnestness. " But I must take off my shoes."

" Any way you say," petulantly she retorted. " I must take off
my shoes and my corset also."

Millyard jerked off his shoes as if in a bad humor and, fling-
ing his coat on the chair, climbed to the upper berth.

" That is very cool," said Bertha, who meantime had divested
herself of her waist and was unfastening her corset. " Aren't you
going to kiss me good night ? "

" Certainly," replied Millyard. ;' I am such a novice at this
sort of business I never thought of that."

He leaned over the side of the berth and reached his head down
as far as he could. Bertha, who by that time had got her corset off
and flung it on the floor, was tiptoeing while reaching her red,
pouting lips up toward those of Mr. Millyard. Both were strain-
ing every nerve reaching as far as they could, but their lips could
scarcely meet in contact.

" Rea " muttered Bertha laughing, without concluding her

speech, being interrupted by Millyard, who said :

" Bertha, you look glori — "

His remark was also never finished. Millyard was suddenly pre-

In the Same Cabin-Room. 75

cipitated forward ; he plunged head-foremost to the floor, except
that his hands struck first. Had he not hit partially against Ber-
tha in his descent and thus impeded his fall his neck might have
been broken. The steamer had made a fearful lurch at the inop-
portune moment. Probably it had struck a huge tree floating in
the river. f

Bertha, who was knocked sprawling against one of the
chairs, screamed.

" Hist ! You will alarm the people," softly hissed Millyard, ris-
ing to a sitting posture on the floor.

"Are you hurt?" asked Bertha.

" Only my thumb," he replied, shaking his hand up and down
and squirming. " It seems to be broken."

"Poor thumb; let me see it!" she said, taking the injured
thumb in her tender fingers and rubbing it soothingly.

" I am afraid I will need a doctor for it," said Millyard, getting
up and taking a seat in the chair.

" I will go get the doctor. I wish I had some of that camphor
you put on my face and in my eyes."

" It pains me dreadfully," said Millyard, smiling and half groan-
ing. " However, I guess I will have to tough it through. I see it
is only dislocated and not broken."

" No, no. I will go get the doctor at once." So saying Bertha
hurriedly donned her waist and shoes and, pulling her shawl
around her shoulders, dashed out in quest of the doctor.

Millyard was suffering excruciating agonies. A dislocated
thumb pains even worse than does the toothache. In a short time
Bertha returned. She said she saw the night clerk or night watch,
and he would send the doctor immediately.

" Bertha, you are too short," smilingly said Millyard between
soft moans while squeezing on his left wrist with his right hand,
endeavoring to allay the pain.

" You shall not be disappointed," proclaimed Bertha, placing
her palms against his cheeks and kissing him.

" Come in," cried Bertha in response to a thumping rap on the
cabin door. And the doctor of the steamer entered.

" What's the matter ? " gruffly he inquired.

" The steamer must have struck against something," said Mill-
yard. " It suddenly lurched and threw me from the upper berth
to the floor and I think my thumb is dislocated."

The doctor took the thumb in his hand without saying a word

j6 The Lady of New Orleans.

and pulled it hard. The thumb popped: it was in place again.
The doctor got poultice and, bandaging the thumb, left them to
themselves. It was then three o'clock and the steamer was forty
miles from New Orleans.

" You see how easy it is to do a thing when you know how ? "
remarked Millyard. " Now I guess I will climb up to roost
again."

""I kissed you, now you kiss me before you climb up to roost,
as you say," said Bertha, having doffed her shawl and waist.

" I suppose so, since you have been so kind," replied Millyard,
suiting the action to the words.

" Now I will get up-stairs, as you call it," said Bertha, " and you
remain down here."

" O, no ; I would not have you do that. I must get up there."

" I intend to get up there, too," she retorted, making the at-
tempt but failing. " Lift me up, then I can make it."

Mr. Millyard caught hold of her round the waist with his right
arm and hoisted her until she could reach over to the back side of
the berth with her hands. She was grappling with her fingers for
a hold on the covering or anything else while her waist was rest-
ing on the edge of the bunk and her feet and legs were dangling
and gesticulating eloquently below,

" Catch hold of my feet and push me up," yelled Bertha, laugh-
ing hysterically, making the proper suggestion.

"Methodically, or mechanically, Millyard complied, taking hold
of one foot with his undisabled hand and giving her a lift which
landed her " safe and sound."

Assuming a sitting posture on the berth above she began un-
packing her luxurious growth of hair.

" In my hurry to get up here I failed to take off my stockings,"
said Bertha, mournfully. ,

" I thought you wanted to keep them on," said Millyard. ' You'
will be in a hurry when we get to New Orleans."

Concluding to keep them on, Bertha finally cuddled down and
made a noise as if she was sobbing. Mr. Millyard thought she
was weeping.

He crawled in the lower berth and soon was fast asleep.

What Happened to Millyard. 77

CHAPTER XIII.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MILLYARD.

The steamer landed at her wharf in New Orleans soon after
daylight.

The first person to rush across the gangway was the excited
Mr. Morritz Rosenstin.

" Var'sh mine Bertah ? Var'sh mine daughtar Bertah ? " shouted
the Polak in broken sentences and broken but not exhausted wind,
his whiskers and his hair sticking out.

' Who's your daughter? " demanded the purser of the steamer.

' She vas ter got on at Bilot Down," replied the Polak, jigger-
ing about in his steps like a monkey dancing a jig to hornpipe
music made on a bagpipe.

' The lady who boarded us at Pilot Town is in sixteen."

Old man Rosenstin rushed for room No. 16. Bang, bang, bang,
he rapped on the door.

" Bertah, Bertah! Vos you in dare?"

Bertha was awakened. She answered and climbed down from
the upper berth. She opened the door slightly and cried out to
her father:

" Wait ! Can't you wait till I put on my shoes and things? "

She closed the door and proceeded to put on her shoes, corset
and frock waist. Mr. Millyard had not awakened. Loss of sleep
two succeeding nights had rendered him a happy sleeper.

Bertha was slower than the old man desired, or he was more
impatient than was proper. Anyway he slammed the door open,
yelling :

' Vasn't you com " His eyes fell upon Millyard in the

lower birth.

" Mine Ghott ! Bertah ! Vot man vos dot ? O, Bertah, Bertah !
you done broke mine heart! Vot shall I do? "

" You have no heart," screamed Bertha in a rage. " Why did
you force yourself in here? "

78 The Lady of New Orleans.

;' Bertah, vot mon vos dot ? " he asked pleadingly and holding
out his hand in the direction of Millyard.

Just then Mr. Millyard awoke and turned over in the berth fac-
ing the old man.

' Mine Ghott'n himmel ! Bertah, you got dot mon in here mit
you ? Sleepin' mit you ? O, mine Ghott, mine Ghott ! You done
broke mine heart ! Git out frum dare, you villuns ! You got ter
marry mine Bertah right er vay. You vos von gran' scoundrel!
O, mine Ghott, mine Ghott ! Vot shall I do ? "

Exhausting his vocabulary of expletives, which were many in.
addition to these recounted, a reaction of the nerves took place and
the outraged old man sank down in a chair wailing in moans of
subdued tones.

Bertha was putting the finishing touches on her hair as best the
poor girl could without brush or comb.

Mr. Millyard raised himself as if he were going to get off the
bunk ; his feet were dangling over the deck rail, as it were, of the
berth. He spoke calmly :

" Look here, old man, haven't we met before? Aren't you
hog-shearing, making much ado about nothing? I admit things and
circumstances do look distressingly against us to our disadvantage,
but I can assure you that young lady is as pure as she was when
she came in here. You had me kidnapped and placed on board the
Hilda, where your daughter had been placed by you "

" Me ? " interrupted the old man. " Had you kidnapped ?
Nine "

' Well, you got the police to do it." quickly snapped Millyard,
interrupting the Polak in return. ' You telegraphed and had us

arrested and taken from aboard the Hilda at Pilot Town "

" I do not delergraph fer you ter be 'restid," again interposed
Mr. Rosenstin. " I told dem ter delegraph fur mine Bertah. She
dos not go mit you on dot steamer. Ven I hear you vos on dare
I got me crazy. Unt den I got der sheif mit der berleace ter dele-
graph unt haf 'er sent back right ervay."

' The officer showed us the telegram, which stated that the
girl's father ordered us arrested and sent back to New Orleans,
and you are to blame for it. That is what caused the officer to
think we were married and probably running away. That is the
reason the officer insisted, or persisted, in keeping us in the same
room at Pilot Town, and his arranging with the captain of this
steamer whereby we were compelled to occupy the same cabin-

What Happened to Millyard. 79

room. But you can see there are two berths. Miss Bertha slept up
there and I slept down here. She insisted on sleeping up there
and would not allow me to get up there, because when I did get up
there I fell out and dislocated this thumb.

" I was abducted before daylight yesterday morning from my
boarding-house by three men and put on board the Hilda without
my having any change of clothing or a cent of money. So I could
not arrange for any other accommodations than those which were
furnished me, as if I were a prisoner. You can ask your daughter
if what I state is correct."

" Father, what Mr. Millyard says is every word the truth. I
do not want to go to your home ; you are too mean to me. So is
that old hussy you got there for a wife. And yet you want me,
your own daughter ! Never ! " She had reached the impassioned
climax of her indignation and repulsion to her father and to his
home. Her last words were uttered clear and loud. Her father
was not surprised — he seemed stupefied. She then continued
more calmly :

" I loved Mr. Millyard, now I love him more than ever. He is
a glorious gentleman. I think he will love me, some, after awhile.
You may go to your home, if you like. I can take care of myself."

" Vos yer goin' ter got marrit?" asked the old man, looking
piteously at Millyard.

' Probably," replied Bertha, intercepting; " but not now. How
much will you give us if we get married ? "
• " I gif yer dot 'ouse ant lot in Carrollton."

" Is that all ? " sneeringly replied Miss Bertha.

' Unt I gif yer one tousant toller," he replied, slashing the air
with his open hand. " Dosh vos all vot I gif."

' That is not enough. More or none," said Bertha proudly, toss-
ing her shawl around her shoulders.

' Bertah, you comes mit me," said her father, getting up and
placing a hand on the door. " Ve goes home right ervay."

" I'll go with you now, but I won't stay," said Bertha, moving
slightly toward him and glancing at Millyard, who was still sitting
on the side of the berth. " I will see you again soon, won't I ? "

" I presume so," replied Millyard, not knowing what else to say,
and adding : " If your father does not send me to prison."

" He shall not do that," asserted Bertha. " There's nothing for
which he can send you there."

" Vare vos yer drunk ? " asked the old man of Bertha.

8o The Lady of New Orleans.

" On the Hilda," she complacently replied.

" Mine Ghott, vot foolishness ! " exclaimed Rosenstin. " Vos
yer done gone got crazy? Come in der room mit der mon ter
sleep and leaves yer drunk mit der udder steamer ! Ef dot vos not
craziness vot vos it? " Bertha did not deign to answer the ques-
tion, and it was none of Mr. Millyard's business.

" You caused it to be left on the Hilda," said Bertha presently.
" Why didn't you telegraph to the officer to take my trunk off the
steamer as well as me ? "

" Dot vould pin nice pizness," said Rosenstin, sneeringly. Turn-
ing toward Millyard he continued : " An officer mit der law vos
out on der varf vaitin' ver yer. He dakes yer ter briscu. Dot
vos too tin vot yer say ; you vos in dot lower bert' mit Bertah. She
vos not up dare. Bertah vos too smart fer dot."

Bertha and her irate father departed, leaving Millyard still
seated on the edge of the berth silently contemplating the last re-
marks of old Rosenstin.

The sun had risen above Algiers and was shining across the
river over the steamer and over New Orleans.

" Well, well, well," mused Millyard. I'm blest if this

ain't . I'll not say it, but it beats me. I can beat anything but

beat the consolidated Jews. Caught in the room with his daughter.
In fact, in bed ! Caught, and by her father, in the berth with
her. That is what he thinks. That's what everybody will think
and say. All the circumstances support the assertion, prove it. It
will be absolute folly for me to deny it. No sane or insane person
will believe it possible for me, or any other man, as for that mat-
ter, for they all judge by themselves — to sleep all night in the same
cabin-room on a steamer with such a magnificently formed and
beautiful-faced woman and not occupy the same berth with her.
Here I was in the lower berth to prove it. Her father saw me.
Blam ! bam ! splam ! ham " cried Millyard in despair as he flung
himself on the berth, adding: "Amsterdam and Rotterdam!
Yea, yea, sayeth the Scripture in sundry places.

" Confound the woman ! Ph-ph-phe-ew ! What can I do ?
What can I say ? He has broken mine heart too. Splam ! Let
everything go as it lays and sweep the board.

" If there is an officer waiting for me to land he will put me in
the parish prison as sure as gun's iron. If he does I am just as
sure as already convicted. For any benefit to me I might as well
plead guilty. But they shall not force me to marry Bertha. I

What Happened to Millyard. 81

will not marry her. If Lucilla casts me off on account of this,
which I expect she has already done, I will drift and shift with the
wind and let Nature take its course.

" Let's think a moment : to convict me of a crime with Bertha,
her testimony to that effect will be absolutely essential. If she will
testify and tell the truth I cannot be convicted. That she will
allow me to be wrongfully convicted, I cannot gain my consent to
believe. She intimated to the contrary.

" Well, I will just wait for the officer to come for me; I'll not
go to him."

Mr. Millyard was soon fast asleep.
6

82 * The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XIV. .

GALEN DALGAL'S ENGAGEMENT DREAM.

At the appointed time Mr. Galen Dalgal called to see Miss Lu-
cilla Helms.

" So Mr. Alpha Millyard is in prison in New Orleans on a
charge of some kind involving moral turpitude concerning a young
lady ? " sententiously remarked Mr. Dalgal, when they had con-
versed a while.

" How did you hear that, Mr. Dalgal? " inquired Miss Helms.

" You told me," he replied. " Have you forgotten? "

" I have not held conversation with you recently to be able to
have told you. I have talked with no one about Mr. Millyard."

" That's funny," retorted Dalgal, who was very funny without
attempting to be or knowing that he was funny.

' Not so funny as you might suppose," rejoined Miss Lucilla.

" Don't you remember telling me yesterday or the day before
that Mr. Millyard had been arrested in New Orleans on the charge
of abducting a young lady, or secreting her from her parents? "

" Mr. Dalgal, have you been dreaming? "

" That is what Judge Selia and all the people say about me, but
I plead ignorance of any such ability."

' I could not have told you thus, for I have not talked with you
during the last week, and I never heard about Mr. Millyard's mis-
fortunes until day before yesterday."

" Ah, Air. Millyard has met with such a misfortune? " gleefully
said Dalgal, readjusting himself in his chair. ' Then I have
been dreaming correctly ? "

" So far as Mr. Millyard is concerned I had ceased to regard him
as bearing any relation to me," said Miss Helms, her matter-of-fact
manner indicating plainly the truth of what she said. " Why
should he be in New Orleans ? When young men get away from
home and old acquaintances they forget the past and take up with
the new. They think they can do as they please and distant friends

Galen Dalgal's Engagement Dream. * 83

of old will be none the wiser. But ^ooner or later dark secrets
come to light. I expect no further communication from Mr. Mill-
yard, even if he is one of your great chums."

" Yes, Alpha was a particular friend of mine. I admire him
very much. I think he will be one of the greatest men of this
country. He has all the elements and attributes to make a great
man. The only thing lacking is want of confidence and as-
surance."

" I would regard the absence of those two traits as being com-
mendable and very much in his or any other man's favor."

" Yes, I agree with you. A domineering, overbearing man is
the most detestable of men. Sooner or later all such meet with
their Waterloo, or else when dead are undreamt and forgot.

" I am very sorry to hear of any misfortune befalling Alpha
Millyard. But I feel serenely positive that he is not in the wrong ;
he is a different kind of man. Though I confess I know nothing
about his case only what you have told me."

" What you have dreamed, you mean," she asserted.

" Since I dream so true to fact let it go as a dream ; a dream in
verity. I suppose on the same lines you will say it was one of my
dreams that you told me last night that you would marry me? "

" Why, Mr. Dalgal ! " smiling and looking credulous, she ex-
claimed. " I never talked with you last night. I was at the opera-
house with Mr. Creichton, and you sat on the opposite side."

" Ah! " exclaimed Dalgal. " You saw me then? It is refresh-
ing to be so noticed and remembered. However, a condescension
on your part I admit. But by it I am emboldened to ask you the
question flatly and bluntly : Will you marry me? "

" Yes, I will. There, you have my answer as bluntly as you ask
the question." She said this rather emphatically, but in a business-
like manner.

" That settles it," he replied. " When? "

" Any time you say."

" By the Hercules ! " he squeaked in his piping voice. " That
were in me which were I the Pope of Rome I'd jump on America
and rule the world !

" That is just exactly what I asked you before and the very
same answer that you made. You agree to be married next
week?"

" Goodness, Mr. Dalgal ; you are in a hurry ! "

" Of course I am," quickly he responded. " When I make up

84 The Lady of New Orleans.

my mind that settles it. Suppose we get married this week — say
Saturday ! "

" Mr. Dalgal ! Who ever heard of a couple being married on
Saturday?"

" Hundreds of them, yes, hundreds, whenever they get ready.
But let it go over until Monday. You said any time."

" O, not Monday. I can't get ready."

" Say Thursday then," he pleaded. " Thursday is a good day.
Good Thursday." She laughed. He added : " Good Friday would
do, but it is not Good Friday. Besides, Friday is unlucky. Thurs-
day is the best day ; make it Thursday."

" If you insist," demurely replied the fair creature.

" I do insist. That settles that, too. We will get married next
Thursday.

" By the way," added Mr. Dalgal ; " I dreamed, or some one
told me, that the mountain lands over in Alexander county I got
from Judge Selia for my horse and circus buggy, as he called it,
and some money besides, with the understanding that I was also to
marry you, has on it and in it millions of gold and untold millions
of dollars' worth of green diamonds, which are far more valuable
than the old style common white diamonds. If this pans out true,
as we gold miners say, you will be the richest woman in the State.
I have sent George Peavy and Mooney over to examine it for me."

This gentleman, Galen Dalgal, Lsquire, was noted for his pe-
culiarities and eccentricities. He was a contradiction of the as-
sertion that the body and locomotion act in concert with the
working of the brain. That is, if a man thinks fast he walks fast
and is quick in consonance in his other movements. Mr. Dalgal
was as slow of movement and easy-going as a yoke of oxen haul-
ing a big log to mill. But his thoughts, his mind, acted as quickly
as a new electric machine threshing old wheat. His reputation
as a judge of law placed him second to no man ; but, as a pleader
or speaker, he made a slip at every turn. He was, therefore, an
office lawyer. Several times he refused to be a judge and as-
signed as the reason, which was true, that he made two or three
times the salary of a judge as a practitioner at the bar.

In addition to his dreaming faculty, on account of which he was
called a dreamomaniac, Mr. Dalgal was known to be superstitious.
Notwithstanding, he was also known by the ladies to be what they
designated a good catch, although he had passed the forty-mile
post on the race-track of life. He was well to do and owned a

Galen Dalgal's Engagement Dream. 85

beautiful and elegant residence situated in a grove of magnificent
oak trees very near the center of the city, albeit it was rented. It
was not a matter of exerting the nerves to overlook or even not
notice his eccentricities for, in spite of them, he was a prime favor-
ite, especially with the ladies.

Miss Lucilla Helms knew that she had to accept Mr. Dalgal's
offer of marriage at once and when he said or not at all.

86 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XV.

VILLEGUINI BRIBING DELARUE.

It was seven and a half o'clock when Alpha Millyarcl was
awakened and informed that he must go ashore. He readily and
quickly complied. The cargo was already being discharged.

Mr. Millyard walked out on the wharf stealthily, glancing in
every direction, expecting every moment to be seized by an officer
of the law. Crossing the levee and being out on the street unmo-
lested, breathing freer and his heart beating easier, he rushed up
the first cross street and was gone.

Mike Delarue was wanderr g up and down the wharf where
foreign steamers mostly land long before daylight. He did not
know at what time or on what vessel Millyard would return. His
anxiety was intense. He feared a detective would be on hand and
arrest Millyard as soon as he landed and he would not be present
or able to assist him.

Thus Delarue was engaged when he chanced to see the Polak,
Rosenstin, perambulating the wharf.

Delarue decided to keep his eye on Rosenstin. Thus it came
about that he saw Bertha's father rush across the gangway imme-
diately after it was planted on the wharf. Some twentv minutes
later he saw the old man disembark with Bertha in his charge
by his side. They two went their way while Delarue waited and
waited and watched for Alpha Millyard. No Millyard came.
Patiently waiting until after seven o'clock, thinking every minute
Millyard would surelv come the next, Delarue at length decided
that instead of being on the same steamer with Bertha, Millyard
had been returned on another, and thus he had missed him. Re-
luctantly Delarue departed and slowly wended his way up-town.

Feeding on sadness.. Delarue sauntered into Rosenstin's jewelry
store about nine o'clock. When opportunity presented itself, after
the jeweler had finished waiting on a lady customer, Delarue casu-
ally asked ;

Villeguini Bribing Delarue. 87

" Did your daughter return? " He knew she did, but that ques-
tion answered would enable him to ask about Millyard.

" Yah, mine Ghott," shouted Rosenstin, excitedly. " Ant dot
villun vos in der bert' mit mine Bertah all night. I goes in der
room unt fine's 'im mineself lyin' mit der bert' ant mine Bertah in
dare mit 'im. Vot you tinks ov dot ? eh ? "

The old man looked wild, stepped quickly up and down and '
puffed like a turtle walking through hot embers.

" I haf him 'rested," he went on. " I prosecutes 'im mit der
law, ter der full exdent uf der law, ant don' you forgot it, unt sont
ter Baton Roosh, ef 'e don't marry mine Bertah. You dos
hear dot?"

"Actually in the berth with Bertha?" inquired Delarue ear-
nestly.

"Mine Ghott! I saw dem mit mine own eyes! " exclaimed the
frenzied Rosenstin. " Dey vos in der lower bert'. He vos ersleep
mit der lower bert' ven I vent in dare. Den 'e roll himself over unt
talk mit me. I dos sometin's mit 'im right ervay."

Wishing to avoid any further scene, the old man was talking
so loud, Delarue walked out of the store, leaving Rosenstin hurl-
ing maledictions on the " villun."

" Can it be possible that the fellow has been deceiving me? "
thought Delarue as he walked up Poydras street into St. Charles
street. ' That is the very worst thing that could have happened
to him. Let the old chap catch him in the cabin-room in the berth
with his daughter, where they had been all night ; he will be sent
up now sure as blazes. I must give up the chase. It's no fun
to me.

" No," he said to himself after reflecting a few moments ; " that
would not be honorable until I hear his side of the affair. It may
be a game to force him to marry the girl. He may be willing to
marry her. She is deucedly beautiful, about the handsomest
woman in New Orleans. I can't blame the cuss for being in the
cabin-room with 'her. But he should not allowed himself to be
caught, especially by that fractious codger, her father. There is
where he made a howling ' bust,' as he expresses an error. And
that is what puzzles me. By Saint George ! there is something
wrong. I will go find Millyard."

Upon Delarue's going to Judge Cotton's office and making him
acquainted with what he had learned concerning Millyard, that
gentleman sternly said ;

88 The Lady of New Orleans.

' If that is the kind of game the young man is playing I cannot
have anything more to do with him or his case. But probably, as
you suggest, there is a scheme between them to force Mr. Millyard
to marry the girl. You better find Mr. Millyard and let us learn
his side of the case before condemning him."

Delarue next visited* Villeguini's bank.

' What do I know about the young man ? " asked Mr. Villeguini,
diffidently, in answer to a question of Mr. Delarue.

" I thought probably you had heard whether he is back in town,"
retorted Delarue.

" How should I know ? Why should I know ? Has he been
gone ? " testily asked Villeguini.

" He was kidnapped and sent off on the steamer Hilda yester-
day morning for Havre. Bertha Rosenstin was on the same
steamer, and, I understand, the police ordered them intercepted
at Pilot Town and they were to arrive here this morning. Bertha
came, but I have not learned whether Millyard came or not."

" Well, well, Mike, he seems to be a wonderfully ingenious ras-
cal," said Villeguini, becoming more interested. Musingly he
added : " If he comes back here he will be put in the Parish
prison."

' How do you know that, Mr. Villeguini ? And for what offense
can he be put in the Parish prison? "

;' O, I don't know, and don't care," he snapped. " I understand
you are his friend and have been helping him."

" No, indeed, not much. I am barely acquainted with him. I
was in need and hungry and he assisted me."

' That's it," ejaculated Villeguini. " Probably you are hungry
still? Here is five dollars," said Villeguini, producing a national
bank note from his vest pocket and handing it to Delarue. " Take
that and get you something more to eat. I wish you would find
out something for me about that fellow Millyard, Mike, and let
me know at once. Not that I care particularly, but I would like
to know just through curiosity what he is doing and going to
do. I suspect that he is trying to ruin that girl. From what you
say, if they were on the steamer together he has already accom-
plished her ruin. If he has I propose to be in at the funeral or
wind up in Baton Rouge."

Villeguini turned to his desk and wrote a note. Calling the
bank's messenger boy he said :

" Here, Jimmie, take this to the chief of police,"

Villeguini Bribing Delarue. 89

Emerging from the bank into Camp street with a crisp five-
dollar bill so easily and unexpectedly acquired, Delarue dashed off
for Johnnie's.

Delarue found Alpha Millyard at Johnnie's. While evening up
on 'alf an' 'alf it did not take time for Mr. Millyard to epitomize
his latest experiences, those since their separation. Delarue lis-
tened with the patience of a judge, but with much more astonished
interest.

" Did Bertha seem to want you to go in the cabin-room ? " asked
Mike, innocently.

" Seem ! " shouted Millyard. " She commanded me, I said, and
like a boss, to ' come along.' Of course I had to come along. I
had no money to hire another room and they would not permit
me to remain in the saloon. But, Mike, I pledge you my word,
what I have told you is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth. We did not occupy at any time, or any portion of the
time, the same bed or berth. She slept up-stairs and I slept below.
The old codger may rave and anathematize as much as he pleases,
but that is the truth, and I believe the girl will swear it as well
as I."

" That was too funny about the old Polak saying Bertha was too
smart for that," and Delarue laughed a good, hearty guffaw.

" Yes, and his offering to give Bertha a house and lot and a
thousand dollars ' ef ve voult got marrit.' "

" Mr. Millyard," said Mike, " you are a thoroughbred. You
are a gentleman. I believe every word you have told me."

" Thanks, my noble Creole Duke ; they are as true as if spoken
by the Prophet Jeremiah."

The two gentlemen repaired to the office of Judge Cotton.
W7hen Mr. Millyard had made his revelations Judge Cotton ex-
pressed great satisfaction at the turn affairs had taken, but ad-
monished Millyard that he was not at the end of his persecution,
and warned him to be very careful in his conduct. He concluded
by suggesting to Delarue that he keep close watch on Villeguini's
actions and he would find him, for selfish purposes,, the moneyed
man and the brains behind the persecution of Mr. Millyard.

" Villeguini's giving me the five dollars was equivalent to em-
ploying me as a detective to furnish him with information about
Mr. Millyard," said Delarue, as they were about leaving Judge
Cotton's office. " Detective work is worth more money than that,
much more ; and now since he has commenced paying me I have

90 The Lady of New Orleans.

it in my mind to make him pay me quite largely. Besides, it af-
fords me the opportunity of ascertaining his plans about Mr.
Millyard."

Leaving Judge Cotton's office, Millyard started to his boarding-
house, while Delarue walked from Canal into Camp street.

When Delarue was nearing'Villeguini's bank he glanced ahead
just in time to see the kidnapping Dago, the longshoreman, enter
the door of the bank. Mike followed. The Dago went in the back
room where Villeguini was seated at his desk. Mike advanced
near to thve door between the private office and the ban»king-room
and halted where he could overhear any conversation between Mr.
Villeguini and the Dago. None of the bank officials paid any at-
tention to Delarue, as they knew him, and had seen him with Mr.
Villeguini that morning.

" I seed 'im come off ther steamer 'bout ha' arter seven. 'E
looker round ter see as how ef any one wuz er watchin'. Ther
gal's dad wuz there fur 'er 'fore ther steamer landid."

' That's all I want to know," said Delarue to himself, as he
turned and started out. " That proves the conspiracy, and Ville-
guini at the head of it. I don't want that Dago to see me here. He
would give me away."

" Don't go off. I want to see you directly," said Villeguini to
Delarue, who had chanced to step out where Villeguini saw
him.

" I'll be back in a few minutes," replied. Mike, without turning
back or halting. He went out on the street and watched until the
Dago left.

" Did you have a lunch, Mike ? " asked Villeguini as Delarue
entered his office.

" A full meal, thanks to you, Mr. Villeguini," replied Mike,
seating himself in a leather-cushioned chair. " I am beginning to
feel right respectable again, when I can have such good friends as
you."

" That's right, Mike. There's nothing like being a man. It
makes one feel good* and other people, too. I am glad to be of
service to you. I hope you will be abl'e to secure employment.
Until you do come round and see" me occasionally. Meantime I
trust you will be of service to me in the matter about that fellow
Millyard. Have you found out anything about him ? "

' Yes, that is what I come to tell you. He is here in town. I
saw him not more than an hour ago."

Villeguini Bribing Delarue. 91

" Where was he going ? "

" Uptown ; in that direction."

" Mike, that fellow better get out of town and stay out. If not
he will be sent to the Parish prison sure, and probably to the pen-
itentiary at Baton Rouge. Can't you confidentially advise him to
leave for good — for his good? "

Delarue now saw his opportunity. He said :

" Old man Rosenstin told me awhile ago he found him in Ber-
tha's cabin-room on the steamer this morning, and that he had
been there all night."

" Great heavens ! You don't say ? " exclaimed Villeguini in a tu-
mult of passion. " The miserable, villainous scoundrel ! Rosen-
stin will have to take out a criminal warrant for seduction. That
will send him to the penitentiary ! " exclaimed Villeguini in high
glee. Then pulling at his stubble mustache, he added: ;' I'll go
see Rosenstin."

" Why don't you take out a warrant? " suggested Mike, " and
not wait for the old man to do so."

" That would never do," replied Villeguini. " I am not suf-
ficiently interested, you see ; only as a friend of Rosenstin because
he is a customer of this bank. And I know Miss Bertha very
well. She is a very handsome young woman, and it is a great out-
rage that villain should ruin her. He must be sent up."

" Where is he from? " asked Delarue.

" Blest if I know," answered Villeguini, sharply. " I did hear
he is from Kentucky, Louisville. I wish you would find out
something about him. I understand Miss Bertha is so desperately
in love with him, so completely infatuated, that she would forego
heaven to be with him. He has succeeded in making a perfect
dupe of her."

" I wonder," exclaimed Delarue, mechanically. " Well, he is a
handsome man. Besides, he is cultivated, has elegant manners and
is a brilliant lawyer."

" Yes, there is where comes his cunning. I heard a good lawyer
say he is about tbte smartest lawyer at the New Orleans bar.
That is how he has duped Bertha and made a plaything of her."

" I don't see how a criminal warrant against him will hold
good," said Mike. " As I understand matters he was kidnapped
and placed on board the Hilda where Bertha Rosenstin had been
placed by her father. Millyard would turn the tables and claim
that it was a scheme to force him to marry the girl. But," con-

92 The Lady of New Orleans.

tinued Delarue, looking Villeguini calmly in the eyes, " suppose
he marries her? "

" That would never do," shouted Villeguini. Then controlling
himself, he went on more calmly : ' Who knows what he is or
anything about him ? He might carry the girl away off and then
desert her. I should advise the old man against that."

' You say the girl loves him and wants to marry him? If he
should love her why shouldn't they marry ? "

" Because they would be incompatible," retorted Villeguini.
" She a Polish Jewess and he an American Anglo-Saxon."

" An American Anglo-Saxon would be more compatible than
any other kind of Saxon, "asserted Delarue. " Her father said to
me he was going to make him marry her."

" He must not; that must not be! " vehemently protested Ville-
guini. " He must be sent to prison. I have an idea that he is
already arrested and is in the central station; if not, then the parish
prison."

Delarue then recalled to mind the note Villeguini had sent by
the boy to the chief of police. It meant that Villeguini had
directed the arrest of Mr. Millyard. So he said :

" If he is arrested Judge Cotton will get him released."

" If Judge Cotton gets him released he will be arrested again
on some other charge," quickly asserted Villeguini, showing his
animus by the warmth of his speech and manner. " He will con-
tinue to be arrested as long as he remains in New Orleans. Mike,
this affair is becoming: interesting: in more ways than one. I
want you to help and keep me informed about the fellow ; you
used to be a good detective. Here is ten dollars more and when
it is gone come and get some more. I am willing to pay you for
your services in keeping me informed."

Delarue took the ten dollars and very soon departed.

Ralph the Reporter Got the Facts. 93

CHAPTER XVI.

RALPH THE REPORTER GOT THE FACTS.

From what Villeguini had said, the note and the interest he
manifested, Delarue felt positive that Millyard was already arrested
and in prison. Therefore to the prison he went.

He found Millyard in the central police station. The charge
against him was eloping with a girl under age. His trial was
booked for ten o'clock next morning. Volney, the detective, of-
ficiated in the arrest. Millyard was taken just before he arrived
at his boarding-house.

" Mike, am I to remain in here until morning? " inquired Mill-
yard through the iron bars as Delarue stood outside in the hallway
and a policeman near by.

" Unless I can get bail for you," replied Mike. " Whom must I
see to go on your bond? "

" I do not know of a person in all New Orleans whom I would
feel justified in asking to go my bail in this case. The circum-
stances are so strong against me any man will think me guilty and
hesitate about signing a bond for my appearance, even to-morrow
morning."

A man came up quickly and, addressing Millyard, said :

" If you are turned out of here will you leave New Orleans at
once and never return ? "

" Sir, are you a suborner of crime for criminals ? " contemptu-
ously responded Millyard with a haughty air. ' My being in-
carcerated here is a crime against my person. I am guiltless, and
I shall not barter my honor, whether you have interest or influence
in the matter or not."

" Humph, incorrigible," hissed the man, turning on his feet and
walking down the corridor, motioning his head for Delarue to
come to him.

" I will stand as the fellow's bondsman," said the man to
Delarue, " if he will agree to leave the city immediately and

94 The Lady of New Orleans.

never return. Speak to him about it and persuade him to do
it. If you will get him to leave I will give you a hundred dollars."

" Couldn't you make it more than that? say fi\e hundred; then
I can divide with him."

" See what you can do and let me know," said the man, moving
on down the hallway while Delarue returned to the cell-room
door.

" Who was that man, Mike?" asked Millyard. " Is he their
lawyer ? "

" Don't you know him? I thought you did. That is Villeguini."

" Yilleguini? " repeated Millyard. "That is the name of the
man Bertha told me about."

" He gave me ten dollars more at the bank not half an hour ago,
and just now offered me a hundred dollars if I would induce you to
leave town and never return, saying he would sign your bond. I
asked him why not make it five hundred so I could divide with you.
He told me to see what I can do and let him know. Does that
look like disinterested friendship either for the father or the
daughter? I will go see Judge Cotton and get you out of here
right away."

" Whether the Judge gets me out of here or not I will not com-
promise my honor with that villain Villeguini. I would rather
remain in here a vear. Go, please, and see what the Judge will
do."

On his way out of the station Delarue stopped in the office and,
inquiring, ascertained that the amount of bail that would be re-
quired of Millyard for his appearance at the Recorder's court
next morning was one hundred dollars.

Judge Cotton gave Delarue a note to a Mr. Pollock, a friend of
his. Mr. Pollock went with Delarue to the central police station
and signed the bond, whereupon Millyard was released.

" Xow let us go to Johnnie's and discuss the situation," said
Delarue when thev were on the street. " Now that I know Ville-
guini's game I want to lay my plans how I shall pull him for a
hundred in the morning and a cool five hundred the next day.
He's got to pony and dance now, fiddle or no fiddle.

" By the way, it was a neat little piece of luck how I got him con-
nected with your abduction." Delarue then related about his over-
hearing the remarks of the Dago, and added :

" Judge Cotton says you must sue Villeguini for damages for
your abduction,"

Ralph the Reporter Got the Facts. 95

' I must get clear of this affair before doing that," answered
Millyard, as they entered Johnnie's. " You say my friend Frank
has gone back on me ? "

' He talked that way. But I guess he was just slightly irritated
for the time being."

Leaving Johnnie's, the two men boarded a St. Charles avenue
car and went up to Carrollton, where they remained the greater
' part of the afternoon. This was a surcease from the tension and
anxiety of mind on the part of Millyard. He was even loth to
venture to his boarding-house for fear of arrest ; especially was he
dubious about going since Delarue advised him of Mr. Frank's
remarks.

Mr. Frank, with whom Millyard was boarding, was also a
lawyer, but was not practising regularly, as he was engaged in
writing a lengthy poem in which work Millyard was collab-
orating.

At dinner that evening when Millyard had fully and freely re-
lated his experiences, Mr. Frank made free to express his opinions,
stating that he was well acquainted with each one of the parties.

His idea was that Sam Waxelbaum, mischievous and practical
joker as he was, had instigated Bertha Rosenstin to declare to
Mr. Millyard her love for him, as he had heard her express her
admiration of him, Mr. Millyard being a frequent visitor at Sam
Waxelbaum's house, because Sam insisted to Bertha that it was the
way girls in America do when they have a preference for a man.

This theory, to some extent at least, cleared the mystery to Mr.
Millyard. It was novel, it was true, but it was natural. Millyard
perceived how Bertha had been deceived into making such bold
advances to him, goaded as she was by her people at home.

Having promised to meet Delarue at Johnnie's at eight o'clock-
sharp and to " bunk " with him that night at the St. Charles Hotel
to obviate being kidnapped again, Millyard hurried through his
dinner and made a change of clothing.

Promising Mr. Frank to return the next afternoon or soon as he
possibly could, and assist in their collaboration, he bid the inter-
esting family adieu and was gone.

When Millyard and Delarue repaired to the room assigned
them in the St. Charles Hotel it was after twelve o'clock. Soon a
bell-boy appeared with a card for Mr. Millyard.

" I know that fellow," said Mike. " He is a newspaper re-
porter. Send him word to come up here."

96 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Yes, tell him to come to our room," added Millyard to the
boy. " I am preparing to retire."

" So the newspaper reporters have got it," mournfully remarked
Millyard. " The publication of this affair will ruin me."

" Get your side of the affair published in the newspapers and
show up those people who are persecuting you," said Delarue
with warmth. " That is the very thing you want. When your
side is made known the bottom will drop out of Villeguini's game.
Let me do the talking. I know what to tell and how to tell him."

" Hello, Ralph ! Glad to see you ! " exclaimed Delarue, shaking
the hand of the reporter enthusiastically. ' This is Mr. Millyard,
Mr. Carson. Have a seat, Ralph. Say boy: tell the bar to send
me a quart of Mumm's immediately. What brings you here to
see us this time o' night, Ralph ? "

" I come to get the unvarnished facts about this affair of Mr.
Millyard," replied Mr. Ralph Carson. " Our editor, who knows
of Mr. Millyard and his family, says the version we have heard
about it does not stand to reason, Mike."

" Uh, hungh," half-grunted Mike.

" It has created a sensation all over the city before we got on to
it," said Ralph the reporter, " and our editor instructed me to get
the facts from Mr. Millyard. I traced you to Johnnie's and they
told me you had come here."

" I can tell you the whole thing," said Mike. " I know it from
Dan to Beersheba, New Orleans to Algiers, from Alpha to Omega,
or Bertha."

" All right," ejaculated Ralph, smiling. " Give me all about
Alpha to Bertha."

The bottle of wine came and while they were refreshing them-
selves with the wine Delarue went on and told all the circumstances
in consecutive detail up to that present time, while Ralph Carson
wrote it stenographically. Delarue was particular in specially re-
lating the serious difficulties Millyard labored under in procuring
bail under such charges with the circumstances all so very unfavor-
able to him.

When Delarue had finished Carson exclaimed :

" By thunder! that's a corker! I'm glad it wasn't I. But if it
had been I would not be here to-night."

" Why ? " dryly inquired Mike.

" Thunderation ! Bertha and I would be in Texas ! " explained
Ralph, folding his manuscript and paper, as he went out of the
door.

Key to the Ills that Beset. Q7

CHAPTER XVII.

KEY TO THE ILLS THAT BESET.

" I am glad one paper has made something like a decent truth-
ful report of your affair Mr. Millyard," remarked Judge Cotton
when Millyard and Delarue entered his office preparatory to their
going to court.

"They got it from Mr. Delarue," explained Millyard. " A
reporter came to our room at the St. Charles hotel last night
and asked for the unvarnished facts. -Mike gave them to him."

" Alpha Millyard ; eloping with a minor female. What do you
say in this case, gentlemen ? " demanded the Recorder. It was the
last case to be called.

Judge Cotton arose and said :

" I would suggest, your honor, that under this accusation it is
not a case for consideration by your honor. But we are willing to
waive that in order to save time and expense."

" The court takes cognizance of the learned lawyer's remarks,"
said the astute Recorder. " A newspaper this morning shows that
it was a case of abducting the accused, who is, by the way, a
brother lawyer, instead of his abducting or eloping with the female
in the case. This court has jurisdiction sufficient to dismiss this
case ; but it has to direct the entry of an order to hold Mr. Millyard
in custody in default of bail in one thousand dollars to appear at
District court on a warrant, which is here, charging him with
seduction."

" Could your honor not make the bail less than that sum ? " asked
Judge Cotton. " Mr. Millyard is not so extensively acquainted in
the city ; besides, sir, he is a brother lawyer, as your honor has
correctly stated." Before Judge Cotton had concluded his appeal
he was touched on the elbow by a person from behind, who whis-
pered to him.

" Will the court please excuse me just a minute? " said Judge
Cotton.

7

98 The Lady of New Orleans.

" He then turned and walked down the aisle to the back part of
the court-room. A lady, handsomely gowned and thickly veiled,
seated near the rear row of benches, beckoned him to her.

The lady and the distinguished-looking Judge held a brief con-
sultation.

" Under the circumstances, upon reflection the court will reduce
the bond to five hundred dollars," said the Recorder, as Judge
Cotton walked back to the railing.

" There is a lady in the court-room, may it please your honor,"
remarked Judge Cotton, " who states that she owns property in
the city, some on Canal street, who volunteers to go upon the
bond for Mr. Millyard."

" Arrange that with the clerk and sheriff," said the Recorder.
" Captain, adjourn court until to-morrow morning at nine o'clock."

The few people remaining in the court-room began dispersing.
The vision of loveliness retained her seat until the gallant old
lawyer went back and escorted her forward to the clerk's desk.
The bond was immediately prepared and Alpha Millyard signed it.

" I know of Miss de Ampbert," said the deputy sheriff in
charge. " She is perfectly good."

" Of course she is," asserted the clerk.

In beautiful chirography with her dainty hand incased in a close-
fitting kid glove, she signed, " Rittea de Ampbert."

Then facing Mr. Millyard and drawing a card from a gold card-
case, slightly bowing and smiling, she handed it to him.

Taking the proffered card and bowing gracefully, the gallant
Millyard said :

" I know not why I am thus so overwhelmed in a debt of grati-
tude, but allow me, fair friend, to assure you I shall seek to know
the cause at this address this blessed afternoon. Meantime you
have all my thanks."

As the beautiful creature gently glided along the aisle the whole-
some, cheerful noise made by her rustling silks and crinoline re-
verberated through the dirty, dingy old court-room as something
out of place, while every man craned his neck and strained his
eyes as they gazed after the departing beauty in wonder and
amazement.

Mike Delarue was the first to break the silence and the spell.
He said :

" I'll tell you what, old boy, you have struck a friend now.
She is the richest woman in all Louisiana. She owns a whole

Key to the Ills that Beset. 99

block of business buildings on Canal street, some houses on Royal,
Conti, Magazine, Tchoupitoulas, Camp, Chartres, Rampart, Es-
planade, Dryades and I don't know where all, besides the fine
mansion where she lives on Canal. Another thing, which is a very
important point, she owns a majority of the stock in Villeguini's
bank."

" There, by Jove ! " exclaimed Millyard. " That is Villeguini's
funeral knell."

ioo The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XVIII.

SAM WAXELBAUM THROTTLED.

" Romance, I love romance for its own sake," said Judge Cotton
to Mr. Millyard when he and Delarue called at the Judge's office
while on their way to Victor's, on Canal street, a higher priced and
more stylish cafe than Johnnie's. " Romance is the higher essence
of life. Romance is indissolubly linked with love, and without
love life is not worth the living. You young people have to learn.
The sooner the better and the more romance the sweeter the en-
chantment. Take life for a romance and romance for a reality.
I feel sure, sir, that incident in court is thrilling your soul with
new and more animated life. A thousand beautiful new sheens
are freshly pictured in your mind. A young, beautiful and
wealthy woman whom you did not know coming into that dingy,
filthy court-room among such people and waiting just to go on
your bond for your appearance at the District court in order to
prevent your being sent to the parish prison for safekeeping, is
remarkable. I tell you, sir, it is remarkable. It is romance of the
highest order. There is something behind it, sir. There is some-
thing behind it, sure. She has an incentive and a reason. There
is a guiding angel in it, if it is herself."

" Well, Judge," said Millyard, as he and Delarue were about de-
parting, not having seated themselves, " when the germ engen-
dered by the romance sprouts forth into a flower of reality I hope
my wits will be keen enough to discern the right and I not be led
to the wrong. God of Heaven forfend me from that. My inclina-
tion lies in the straight and narrow path."

" No one doubts it, Mr. Millyard, who knows you. I do not, and
never will again, after your futile temptation."

Mr. Millyard bowed his acknowledgments. He and Delarue
then repaired to Victor's for lunch. After which Delarue visited
Villeguini.

" What's the news now, Mike ? " asked Villeguini.

Sam Waxelbaum Throttled. 101

" The Recorder dismissed the case, as I told you he would,"
Mike replied. " But he bound him over to the District court in
five hundred dollars on a warrant charging- him with seduction."

" Was he sent to prison ? "

" No, some one went on his bond," Delarue replied.

" After you suggested to me that he could not be convicted on
the charge of eloping," said Villeguirii, " I inquired about it and
found it correct. So I directed my attorney to have a warrant
sworn out against him for seduction. He's got to go to prison or
else leave town," shouted Villeguini, vehemently. " That girl's
gone again, and he's got her in hiding. Mike, can't you possibly
get him out of New Orleans ? " he said pleadingly.

" I can try," answered Mike, indifferently. " I am making
good headway in getting on very friendly terms with him. By
my taking a room at the St. Charles hotel last night I got him to
stay all night with me. I also paid for a bottle of wine ; he is
very fond of champagne. I expended all that ten dollars trying
to get him in a humor to talk. He is one of those reticent men
and has to be tuned to the proper pitch at the right juncture be-
fore he will make a note or strike a chord."

" Get him to stay with you again to-night. Do you need some
more money ? "

" Of course, if I hare to keep up with him."

Villeguini handed Delarue a ten-dollar bill taken from his vest
pocket.

" Ten will not cut much figure in allowing me to stand any
hand in keeping up with Millyard. Hadn't you better make it a
hundred ? "

" O, yes, I guess so. If you can do any good with it."

" Of course, that is what I want it for," retorted Mike. " I
can't do any good without it."

Villeguini went to the teller of the bank and got ninety dollars,
which he handed to Delarue in addition to the ten.

" Now, Mike, I want you to do some of the cleverest detective
work you ever did in your life. Get that fellow out of New Or-
leans or get him sent to prison. I am. inclined to think the only
way we can do is to get him to leave New Orleans, and for that I
am willing to pay. Because you see, this seduction charge will
not hold good when it comes to trial. Bertha cannot be depended
on to swear against him on any charge that will send him to
prison. But we can bring more charges against him and keep

io2 The Lady of New Orleans.

him giving bonds until his bondsmen give out. Get him to room
with you at the St. Charles again to-night and fill him full ; then
get him to tell you where Bertha is and make him agree how much
money he will take to leave New Orleans."

" I will do my best," said Mike. " What time shall I come
here to-morrow ? "

" Any time, Mike; any time you think you have something im-
portant. Better see me in the morning sometime. I may have
something to tell you. Besides, you see, I want to know where
Bertha is staying."

An hour later Millyard and Delarue were eating an early dinner
at the celebrated. Denechaud's, six miles out, by the railroad in
a beautiful grove on the margin of Lake Ponjtchartrain. Broiled
pompano (four dollars a plate, at Denechaud's) and soft-shell
crabs, each, pompano and crabs, taken from the lake while they
waited at the table, were part of trie menu they had for their din-
ner. Delarue <was expending part of Villeguini's contribution to
the common cause.

That railroad from New Orleans out to Lake Pontchartrain,
only six miles in length, is said to have been the second or third
railroad built in: the world, or in- the" United' States, which is
equivalent. This made it interesting to* Mr. Millyard. He con-
soled himself with* it as an excuse- for leaving his office and his
business. However, since his first incarceration, no opportunity
had' been afforded him for attending to his business or affairs as
a lawyer. It was sadly going tot wreck. Therefore, Delarue's
unexpected acquisitions from Villeguirfii and his unstinted division
was a godsend to them both.

Millyard had money duo. for his practise, but it was becoming
more questionable each succeeding day about his being able to
collect it.

Mr. Millyard questioned. Mr. Delarue as to how he thought his
taking money from Yilleguini under such circumstances would be
regarded by the public were Villeguini to make the charge before
the public that he had bribed him.

Delaru^ unhesitatingly replied in defense of his action that he
had beer* professionally a detective, which Villeguini knew, and
that Villeguini was endeavoring to take advantage of his profes-
sional services for base purposes. Therefore, any method to cir-
cumvent his dastardly plans were legitimately warranted by the
facts. As proof he cited that the good Judge Cotton approved it.

Sam Waxelbaum Throttled. 103

After dinner Millyard and Delarue strolled out on the lake
shore near the bath-houses.

To their great astonishment, yet great delight, they discovered
Sam Waxelbaum bathing in the lake in the company of a
woman.

" Ah, ha! " exclaimed Delarue. " It will be a distressful day
to your friend Waxelbaum when his wife is made acquainted with
the fact of his escapade with a woman out here. Perhaps he will
find it profitable to unburden you of Bertha Rosenstin."

" Mike, I could not unbend or compromise myself to take ad-
vantage of the fellow in any such manner."

As they were passing along the walk near the row of bath-
houses Delarue took advantage of the proximity of Sam Waxel-
baum and his fair companion and cried out, so that he heard :

" Hello, Sam. Do the crabs bite your feet? "

Sam and his fair comrade looked towards him and then as sud-
denly ducked in the water.

" I must return to the city, Mike ; I am going to call and see my
fair bondslady this afternoon."

" That's right ; she expects you. I know all about her and her
family. But you must go with me to the theater to-night. I prom-
ised Villeguini you should room with me at the St. Charles.
Meet me at Johnnie's."

104 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XIX.

MILLYARD MEETS THE LADY.

Into a large old-style mansion of unimposing exterior Mr.
Alpha Millyard was ushered by a liveried white servant. A
suite of spacious and luxuriantly furnished parlors, the gas burn-
ing luminously, although the sun had not yet gone down, every
surrounding and appointment indicated wealth, culture and re-
finement. Ere long Miss Rittea de Ampbert made her appearance
in the drawing-room and, graciously proffering her hand to Mr.
Millyard, said :

" I am glad you have called. Please be seated."

" How could I do otherwise than call to see my benefactress ? I
am your hostage and must report, otherwise you may not know
but that I have broken faith and left my charming bondslady to
pay my indemnity."

" You are a lawyer, as I understand," she remarked.

" I have been admitted to the bar and am practising some. But
your code de Napoleon gives me some trouble."

" I apprehend you will soon master the intricacies of that. One
of the newspapers states that you are from Kentucky ? "

' Well, yes and no. As the Conrederate soldier in Virginia
said, ' I am a Georgian by birth, a Kentuckian by adoption and a
Louisianian by a misfortune, or unfortunately."

:' I trust not so bad. I hope your misfortune in Louisiana will
redound to your happiness."

Observing a spark through the vista. Millyard replied :

" It would be a solace, the panacea of all my woes could I only
feel and enjoy happiness once again. Never since eighteen sixty-
two have I known what happiness is. It has been one continual
longing with anxiety and dread. The vision of happiness has
been far off and eluded my realization. I sometimes think I am
not destined to ever enjoy happiness. No sooner am I about to be-

Millyard Meets the Lady. 105

come content and happy than something- turns up to thwart all my
aspirations."

"You could, though, become happy and contented?" Her
voice was soft and musical. Attuned from long practise in sing-
ing, probably.

" Indeed I could. But strange to say, I have no ideal. That
would have to present itself before my eyes in reality."

" You are not an agnostic? " she asked.

' Not at all. I am quite orthodox in my belief. It is because
of this belief and a holy feeling that I come to see you. My heart
goes out to you on account of your goodness and kindness to me.
I felt keenly the want of friends, those who could and would help
me in my distress. I think God must have had something to do
with it in prompting you to come to my rescue. I thank both you
and Him. It shall ever be my aim never to forget you. To know
more of you and to see you again and often is my wish."

" That is easy enough. I shall be pleased to have you call and
see me whenever you desire. When you are through with this
trouble I hope to have you dine with me some afternoon."

' Thanks. That will be a delightful pleasure," responded
Millyard.

" I have a box at the French Opera," demurely she sug-
gested.

" Do you attend often ? " inquired Millyard.

" Not very ; only to special attractions. Then on those occa-
sions I have some one of my servants to accompany me in my
landau."

" You prefer not to have a gentleman escort ? " asked Millyard.

" No, not that exactly. But the generality of men are not con-
genial company for me. My father was a Parisian and I was
reared in Paris not here. My father was a ship-owner. He
owned vessels plying between Havre and this place, and, being
here much of his time, he acquired considerable property here.
This he deeded to me before he died. That is why I remain
here. Though I have property in Paris."

" Your parents are dead then ? " he asked.

" My mother lives with me. But she is old and very feeble and
never goes out of her apartments.

u By the way : I heard of your trouble before I read of it in the
papers this morning, and I had taken great interest in it. You
acted nobly. I think you are a gentleman."

106 The Lady of New Orleans.

Mr. Millyard quickly arose from his seat and, placing his right
hand across his breast, bowed low and said :

" I thank you, Mademoiselle. I hope ever to merit such ex-
pression of good opinion. However, I merely did as any gentle-
man should do. The girl says she loves me and wants me to
marry her. She said if she did not marry me she would never
marry any man. But she will get over that. I told her I could
never marry her. She wanted to be my servant and cook for
me."

" She was very bold," flatly asserted Miss de Ampbert.

" Ant amat, ant odit mulier," quoted Millyard. " She says her
father mistreats her and causes her stepmother to do the same.
Gently as possible I informed her I could not marry her because I
am engaged."

'' Ah, indeed ; to some fair lady in Kentucky, I suppose? " Miss
de Ampbert had taken advantage of the slip he had not intended
to make.

' You see, this young lady is a Polish Jewess and would not be
a congenial companion for me. I told her I was engaged, yes ;
and without prevarication. But I fear now that my fiancee will
hear of my troubles and, believing me guilty, break our engage-
ment."

" O, well, suppose she does, if she cannot listen to reason. But,
may I inquire, where is this charming woman who could gain your
affections ? "

Perhaps it was unintentional, but there was a slight inflection on
" your."

" She is in North Carolina. Though I have not seen her in over
a year and a half, nor have I heard from her in two months. I
shall write immediately and inform her of my misfortunes."

" She must be beautiful?" inquiringly said Miss de Ampbert.
" But a college boy's dream, I fancy."

' I suppose so, rather in that line," returned Millyard, rather
hesitatingly. ' I would have married her at one time, but she
postponed it. Fortunately for me for I was not prepared to marry
then ; nor am I now."

' That is. unless circumstances should render it so that you
could ? " said Miss de Ampbert, inquiringly.

" O, circumstances, you know, alter cases," replied Millyard, as
he arose to depart, extending his right hand, continuing : " I fear
I am staying longer than my time, I called to pay my homage and

Millyard Meets the Lady. 107

to beg that you will please accept my sincere thanks and heartfelt
gratitude for your unlooked-for kindness and generous, self-sac-
rificing act in my behalf."

" It is a pleasure to have done you the slight service I have/'
she responded, adding : " Upon reflection, I have decided that, if
agreeable to you, I shall be pleased to have you dine with me
to-morrow."

" Nothing would afford me greater pleasure. I shall be most
happy to do so. I would decline were I not innocent of the
charge against me. I am yours to command as long as you are
my bondswoman."

" I may, if you adhere to that statement, urge to have your
trial postponed/' said she with a merry twinkle in her large hazel
eves that were arched by black lashes, and a flush of her well-
rounded, clear white face tinted with orange color on her cheeks.
Her smile was enchanting. It thrilled the entire anatomy to rap-
turous feelings of pleasure. A woman's smile is ever a delight,
but some are more beautiful than others. The beauty of a woman's
smile lies in the manner and the method. It betokens much, yea,
as much or more than the Greeks supposed and taught. Take it
all in all, say what you will, a man delights in a woman's smile.
The unmoved features strikes him not ; not half so pleasantly.
The nearer the smile in kin to innocence, working in harmony
with a mind that is poised, the greater the delight of the sensible
man. The smile of Mademoiselle de Ampbert was enrapturing
to Millyard. He replied :

" At what hour shall I come ? Your smile entrances me to come
on time." ,

" I dine at five, but you can come about four. We may go to
the opera." The excuse for an hour to be gained brought forth
by him was a laudable subterfuge by each.

Going direct to Johnnie's, Millyard, who was in ecstasies of
joy, met Delarue.

" That girl, Bertha, swears by you," said Delarue as they were
seated at a table in the rear. " She says you are the finest gentle-
man in the world. The old man is as gruff as a 'possum ; just a
grinning and snarling at everything and everybody. One breath
lie says you got to marry Bertah and the next he swears you got
to leave town or go to the Parish prison. Bertha told him, how-
ever, that you acted the perfect gentleman with her. But he
growled and shouted, ' Vhat fer den did you let him comes mit

108 The Lady of New Orleans.

you in der room?' She told him you didn't come in her room;
that she was put in your room ; that it was his fault that the
officer at Pilot Town thought you were married and running away.
She whispered to me that she intended to run away from home
at the first opportunity. Villeguini thought she was gone to-day
and wanted me to search for her. He thinks you have her in
hiding."

" How did you come out in your visit ? "

" Ah, Mike, magnificent woman," responded Millyard. " She
is beautiful and the most charming woman I ever met. A perfect
paragon. A vision of loveliness. Deliciously fascinating. A way
that wins, an eye that kills, a smile that thrills. By Jove! I be-
lieve I've struck my mate. If she is not cut out for me then my
mate is not cut out.

" She looks not more than twenty-three."
' You judge well; that is about her age," Delarue answered.

" She invited me to dine with her to-morrow afternoon and I
accepted. She intimated that we may go to the French Opera
She has a box."

" She can have anything she wants. There are a thousand
men in New Orleans who would like to be just acquainted with
her much less to marry her. But you are on the inside now, if
you will only maintain it."

" I shall be assiduous, I assure you," asserted Millyard. " .Be-
cause I do believe I am already in love with the charming creature
of heaven. Yet I am loath to yield myself to fall in love with her
for fear she might refuse me. To be madly in love with such a
paragon under such adverse conditions would but end my useful-
ness in life."

' Trust to Fate and yourself as an honorable man on that score
and pitch in. She is offering you too much encouragement for her
to lightly refuse without good cause."

" O, Mike, you don't know the women," retorted Millyard some-
what petulantly. ' They will lead a man to the very brink, then
jump the precipice and leave him to stumble in without a
light."

" Shucks ! Grab her by the hand and jump together," sensibly
replied Mike. " But there is something in this case that I know
all about which warrants me in asserting, with the encourage-
ment you have she will marry you quick. She will if you have
proven any way equal to her ideal,, they all have that. You

Millyard Meets the Lady. 109

already have her sympathy, that's certain ; and that's half the
battle, for it's more than half love."

" Yes, I suppose every sensible woman has an ideal and a man
must come up to her conception. If he wobbles from it before
he secures her love he is gone glimmering-, so far as she is con-
cerned. But when he once secures her love the props and pins
may all be knocked from under but she will not drop. Opposition
is a grindstone that whets the appetite of love."

" We must roost at the St. Charles again to-night," said Delarue
as they were about separating.

" Here comes the blabbering, wild young fellow I defended in
court and prevented from being sent to prison. I told you about
him. The fellow who was in the cell opposite to me."

" The top of the day to you, good lawyer. It's glad I am to see
you." Quickly turning towards Delarue the humorously-inclined,
red-headed Hebrew-Irishman continued : " And you, Mr. Dela-
rue." Then looking at Millyard he added : " Did you git him
out uv a schrape, too? "

" O, no. He's helping to get me out of mine," replied Millyard.

" Yes, he got me out of what is worse than a scrape," inter-
posed Delarue. " He got me out of hunger."

" What kind uv a schrape are you in? " asked the young man
of Millyard. " I'll be after helpin' you, too. I can do er mighty
sight er helpin', too, I can."

" Same old muss," answered Millyard. " That is it is a resultant.
One thing brings on another."

" Yes, like a mill turning," said the Irishman. " I know Mike
used to be a great detective. He'll stick to his man through thick
and thin. But I'll jest coadjutate wid 'im in the quest, ef you'll
just tell me the circumstances uv the case so I'll know what ter do.
I'll go the whole length uv me neck fur ye, so help me Moses."

" Mike, you give Mr. Mr. "

" Miles," interposed the young man.

" Jerushi," added Delarue.

" There you have it," said Millyard. " Miles Jerushi. Mike,
you can tell Mr. Jerushi all about the case. Probably he can
assist us."

Delarue related the circumstances concerning Bertha and Mr.
Millyard as briefly as possible.

" Jehosaphat ! in the valley of fat ! " exclaimed Miles. " I
know the whole kit. I'll see Bertie and find out about this Edna of

no The Lady of New Orleans.

Adriadne. I can sthop all that kind of music. Just hold yer
horsis right still. The spalpeen of a Polak! I'll be muzzled vvid
a blubber ! I kin wink me eye an' cork de game."

Muzzled with a blubber indicated his interest in the case. But
there was no explanation as to how or when it was to be done.
Millyard may have conjectured that Jerushi would go wink
his eye.

It was agreed that Miles Jerushi should see Bertha and her
father, but no other person in the case, and report to Mr.
Millyard.

Millyard as a Courteous Courtier. in

CHAPTER XX.

MILLYARD AS A COURTEOUS COURTIER.

Taking advantage of Miss de Ampbert's suggestion, Millyard
returned at four o'clock for a five-o'clock dinner. He was received
like a — well, say, prince. He was a prince in the American realm.
Obsequious servants galore, male and female, white, and colored,
for every possible desire, were in attendance.

" I have decided Mr. Millyard, with your consent, that we will
attend the French Opera. My box will be vacant for us. I have
ordered my coachman to have the victoria in waiting."

" Your hospitality is so charmingly bestowed, Miss de Ampbert,
that I know not how to resist. But really, you see, it did not occur
to me that you actually desired that I, poor me, should, under ex-
isting circumstances, be seen in such a public place in company
with you."

" I am not at present of the society set," she calmly said. " I am
society itself. I am a free lance. I do as I please, not to please
only those whom it is my pleasure to please. I have counted on
your being my guest and my escort." She said this in a manner
as if it were business.

In New Orleans when a lady accepts a gentleman's company for
the opera it is understood beforehand, as a general rule, that she
defrays the admission, together with a chaperon, to whatever part
of the house she desires.

" I am your most obedient," Millyard assented, " and at your
service. I will have to request that after dinner you please excuse
me until I go up-town and secure my full dress habiliments."

" Certainly. But I do not object to your company just as you
are."

Miss de Ampbert jingled a silver bell that was on the table.
Her maid appearing, Miss de Ampbert commanded :

" Tell the coachman to have the victoria at the front door imme-
diately after dinner." Turning to Mr. Millyard she continued:

ii2 The Lady of New Orleans.

" My coachman will take you to your boarding-house and you
can return so much sooner."

" I am tempted to think you desire to honor me more than is
compatible. Albeit my desire to return, the sooner prompts me
to thankfully accept your kind offer."

" Probably it is you who depreciate yourself."

" It is very lovely of you in saying thus in such sweet way. I
feel so keenly my humiliation that I am embarrassed."

" You must not be, not with me. I know all."

" You remarked yesterday that you. had heard of my troubles
before you read of them in the paper?" said Millyard, in-
quiringly.

" Yes. The lady with, whom the girl, Miss Bertha — Ber-
tha "

" Rosenstin," suggested Millyard.

" Bertha Rosenstin was staying down-town during the time you
were first imprisoned charged with abducting her, is a sister of
my housemaid. She comes here often and has informed me
of everything Miss Bertha said about you, which was everything
you said and did, as well as. herself, when you were together. Miss
Bertha was at her house the morning that she and you returned
from Pilot Town and told her all about your and her trip down
and up the river, and how nobly you acted. She does certain
dress work for me. She was hereto-day. She occupies one of my
houses. Hence you will observe that I do know something of
you. Knowing what I do, I am not apprehensive, but to the con-
trary am proud of your society Society will approve of it when
society knows it as a fact and it knows you as you are. Therefore,
I wish that you accompany me to the French Opera to-night.
Society will change its mind to suit the case when society is con-
fronted with the facts."

" I am led from what you say to believe you are truly informed
concerning Miss Bertha and myself. I have been greatly de-
pressed, but I am philosophical; else I could not have borne
myself under the humiliation and the heavy mental strain that
has weighed upon me."

" I was greatly amused at what Aunt Jane, that is her name,
told me what Miss Bertha told her about wanting you to kiss her
good night, and when you reached over to do so you fell head-
foremost from the top berth and dislocated your thumb."

" Has it got well ? "

Millyard as a Courteous Courtier. 113

" It has ceased to pain me only when I use it. I perceive you do
know about my involuntary escapade. Can you condone me ? "

" Is there anything to condone? "

" My misfortune."

" Have I not already done so? "

" I beg your pardon for asking such a question. You most cer-
tainly have. My heart goes out to you for it. I could, — I do "

Mr. Millyard stopped short. He gasped heavily. There was a
painful silence. He turned his head and gazed at the piano.

"You do what, Mr. Millyard?" softly inquired the lovely
woman.

" I do love music. Do you sing? " absent-mindedly asked Mill-
yard.

" Sometimes I try to sing," she replied.

" Would I request too much if I ask you to sing something for
me?"

" For you, yes; with pleasure. But will you tell me first what
that is you do ? "

" You are asking an additional consideration."

" As I remember, you said you were mine to command."

" So I did, so I am. But it is too soon yet to say what I was
involuntarily about to declare. When I am a free man again and
not under the ban I will deify myself in concluding the sen-
tence."

" You talk lovely. Now is as good time as any, so far as I am
concerned," she said naively. " Because I know that you are al-
ready exonerated not guilty of any of those vile charges against
you." At this juncture they were slowly walking toward the
piano in the next parlor.

Glancing at his eyes slyly, she smiled ; a beautiful, lovely smile ;
one that struck the quick.

' My curiosity is anxious," she said, smiling bewitchingly still.

" Dear, sweet woman, I — I — I love you," he finally blurted.
" You have taught me to love vou."

" I am no teacher." He discovered by this reply that she was
complacent.

" Innocently to you God has made you one."

" But, what will your affianced say, or think, of this ? "

" She is of the past with me. You have convinced me that I do
not love her as I should to be her husband. It was, as you have
said, a college boy's dream, a fancy."
8

H4 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Are you sure then that you love me ? Is it not also a
fancy?"

" Fancy plays not so harshly with the more tender emotions
of the heart. Fancy springs from idle thoughts. It is, as you
intimated, a germ of dreamland. It has nothing upon which to
base itself. It comes not from that sterner stuff, firm conviction
evolved through a rigid process of reasoning controlling the
action of the heart and working in unison with it to a common end.

'' No, my dear Miss de Ampbert, my sweet benefactress, it is not
fancy. It is fact. I could not resist. I find myself enthralled, en-
grossed by you, my dear Miss de Ampbert." Mr. Millyard had
halted, facing her.

" Call me Rittea." She lowered her eyes and fumbled her fin-
gers together.

Mr. Millyard cast his left arm about her neck and, taking her
right hand in his, said :

" Darling, sweet woman, will you marry me ? " The fingers of
his left hand were toying with her left cheek.

" I guess I had better wait until after your trial before I answer
that question."

Releasing himself, Millyard replied, rather dejectedly: "I
might have known that."

" O, no; I did not mean to make you feel sad," she quickly
said. " I will sing for you and cheer you."

She sang a ballad, while he stood by her side. It was the acme
in his life.

When she had concluded the song Millyard deftly placed his
hand on the back of her head over a huge boulder of jet black
hair, his right hand under her well-rounded chin, and saluted her
with a delicious kiss. Just then the dinner-bell rang.

" That bell summons us to " Millyard interrupted :

" Why should dinner come so soon ? "

She gracefully strided forward with a long, rich train trailing
over the soft, velvet carpet. Mr. Millyard, gallant cavalier that
he was, equal to the emergency, quickly proffered his arm.

" Who was that gentleman in the court-room yesterday who
seemed to take so much interest in you and your case? " inquired
Miss de Ampbert.

" His name is Delarue, Mr. Mike Delarue," responded Mill-
yard. " Formerly a detective here, I understand, but he was dis-
missed for some cause. The poor fellow had been out of employ-

Millyard as a Courteous Courtier. n5

ment so long that he had become almost a tramp when he met me
on Canal street the day trie man tried to shoot me. He asked me
for money to get himself something to eat. I gave it to him, and
he has since been of invaluable assistance to me in all my troubles.
He it was who saved me the night I was first kidnapped. He was
watching on the wharf the morning they put me on the Hilda. He
informed Judge Cotton about it and the Judge made the Admin-
istrator of Police telegraph to have me taken off the steamer. That
is how I came to. be on the steamer and to be put off with Miss
Bertha Rosenstin at Pilot Town. He was also on the levee watch-
ing for me on my return and saw Bertha land in the company of
her father ; but I overslept myseh and he went away before I
landed. He is a staunch friend of yours."

" I feel so happy," ejaculated Miss de Ampbert in a soft, musi-
cal voice.

" Glorious angel, I hope you will feel so always," quickly re-
sponded Millyard, as they entered the dining-room, where the table
was laden with all the luxuries and delicacies of the season of that
best of markets in all the world. Everything from every clime
besides its own rich abundance of all the tropical products.

There was course after course of deliciously prepared edibles,
her chef being a Frenchman. Dinner being over, the enamoured
pair returned to the parlors. Mr. Millyard disengaged her arm
from his and, slipping his arm around her waist, exultantly said :

" Now, I know you love me."

" O, Mr Millyard; I never said so." The peculiar stress she
laid on the word " said " left no room to doubt that it was the
only negative in the case.

" But you look it," quickly -he said. " Sweetie, actions speak
louder than words, sometimes."

" Y-e-s ; sometimes. I must confess I do like you a little. But
I guess it is merely sympathy."

" Sympathy is delicious, from you. Continue forever sympa-
thizing with me as you do now."

" You are a charming courtier. You remind me of the French,
only your nice American way of being more sincere. Frenchmen
do not love, they are merely charmed ; and thus ever try to make
themselves charming."

" Man is ever urged by a goad or allured by a goal," as-
serted Millyard, when they were seated after having loitered about
the drawing-rooms.

n6 The Lady of New Orleans.

" The allurements predominate over the goadings, do they not? "

" That is a problem," responded Millyard. "It is different
with different classes of men*. Some require goading to the per-
formance of any act, while others would be allured to the same
goal. That is wherein some succeed where others fail. It would
be a pleasure to some, while it would be a drudge to others to do
a needful thing. It comes an easy sequence. But I must be
going."

" I should like you to return at once. It is now after seven,
and we should be at the opera-house by eight fifteen."

" I can return in half an hour."

" That will be delightful." She was not entirely reserved in
being tactful.

Mr. Millyard had the coachman drive by Johnnie's. He found
Delarue waiting for him there.

"Heigho! In my lady's coach, by thunder," exclaimed
Delarue.

" No, victoria, my lord," returned Millyard, as they entered
Johnnie's. " Can't you tell the difference between an ambulance
and a carriage ? "

"You must be getting on famously?" suggested Delarue.

" Famously ? That is good ! Fame on its eternal camping
ground could not be happier than I. The most charmingly beau-
tiful, yea, altogether beautiful and highly cultured woman I ever
met ! " Millyard was decidedly enthusiastic. ;' She is in the class
and order of the Hogarthian line of beauty ; not of the lusciously
rounded, voluptuous, so much the vogue of the sensuous. She
must be loved for her beauty on the lines of beauty and for her
mentality, not for lusciousness of person."

" I saw those people "

" Hang those people ! " cried Millyard. " Tell me about them
to-morrow, Mike. I am in an awful hurry now. Besides, I am
living in Dreamland. It would be too jagged to mar it with any-
thing about those people."

" All right, my boy. I wish you the greatest joy and most com-
plete success. You must come to the St. Charles hotel and roost
with me again to-night. I will take a room, but if you are not too
late I will be here," said Delarue as they parted on the banquet.

Millyard was back at the De Ampbert mansion in half an hour.
After a brief interval Miss Rittea de Ampbert came into the par-
lors. She was gorgeously gowned. Upon entering she remarked :

Millyard as a Courteous Courtier. 117

" You are quick to your agreement. On time, ' sharp,' as you
business men say."

" I have ever tried to be on time. But in such case as this I
could not make myself be late."

" How charming ! Do you make vourself so agreeable to other
ladies?"

" I cannot say that I do. How could I ? " replied the young
gallant. " One must feel the inspiration, the estro, as Byron calls
it ; the divine afflatus, in order to say and do as I feel, speak and
act with you."

" I never heard a man talk so sweetly. Where were you edu-
cated? But it is like you Georgians and Kentuckians. I have
heard that you are accomplished flatterers."

" Flattery? Not flattery by me, I hope. But I abjure you by
your eyes, your smile, above all by our soul-stirring smile, pleasant
speech so nicely fits. I received my diploma at the cross roads,
since the war. The uncivil war deprived me of my collegiate and
also university course."

" It was not then a college boy fancy which caused you to be
engaged ? "

' The same thing, probably ; a schoolboy's dream. We were at
school together. A man must have some one, something to
love."

" Those early loves, are they not often the most enduring and
steadfast ? " earnestly inquired Miss de Ampbert.

" Early, loves may endure until maturer judgment dictates dif-
ferently, when the right mates, the affinities, have been cast to-
gether," responded Millyard. " The theoretic Carlyle, the philo-
sophic Bacon and the knowing Shakespeare all diagnose love, but
no one hits the nail harder nor more tersely than Robert Burton,
who says : ' Love springs from the emotions of the heart as pro-
duced by innate sensibilities.' Again he says : ' And such acts and
scenes has this comedy of love that is a perfect magazine of
monstrosities and absurdities.' He also says : ' Laodice, sister of
Mithridates, poisoned her husband for a base fellow. Lucretia
pined and died for Euryalus. Alexander, to please Thais, set
Persepolis on fire, and for love married Roxane, a poor man's
daughter. Cephalus, stricken by the gad-fly of love, rushed head-
long from a high summit for the love of Protela. King John left
his crown for Matilda, the nun at Dunmow. Leander swam the
Hellespont for the love of Hero, until he sank beneath the burthen

<

n8 The Lady of New Orleans.

of his own weight,' unlike the modern suicide, a model of devotion.
There are in our day those who forego fortune, and others who
forfeit principalities, yea, a mother's love for love of another."

" Go on," she said, " tell me something more."

" It takes but a spark from which to kindle love," he continued.
" The magnetism that draws together may be frail, but like prick-
ing the flesh with a sharp-pointed instrument, it thrills through the
entire anatomy and causes every fiber to move."

" But love, like the place, may be healed."

"Ah, but it leaves a scar," retorted Millyard with assurance.

" Not every time. Though it is true there may be reminders
and memories of it."

" There can be a memory of it without a scar," he said.

" Hence, you may think of that lady to whom you were engaged
and, some time, wish that you had married her."

" Were I to say that such time may not, will not, come, I would
be saying something of which I know nothing."

" That is clever. Still guarded at every point."

" I am a man, and am like all men and women, for that matter,
in the respect that I have my ideal of the one whom I must love
and cherish. And you are that one. I love you. I feel I could
melt to nothing under the glare of your approving eyes. I love
you, yes, O, so sweetly and tenderly. If I knew that I could live
in dreamland and love you always as I do now, and that you
would so regard me, and be towards me as you now appear to be,
I should wish to never marry, but prefer to sit and gaze on your
beautiful face and form and listen to the sweet, cheerful, brilliant
words you speak so musically until eternity has its end."

" Delightful ! Go on ! " exclaimed Miss de Ampbert.

" It is I who wish you to go on," said Millyard.

" You said you were my most obedient."

"I repeat: I am entirely yours," said Millyard, prising from
his seat and advancing, concluding: "Can we sit upon the
sofa?"

" Why not this vis-a-vis chair ? "

" That will be lovely. Why have we not been occupying this
chair before? "

" I suppose because you never suggested it. However, we must
leave for the opera presently."

" This is opera sufficient for me. Were it not for your pleasure
I would prefer to remain here."

Millyard as a Courteous Courtier. 119

" When you are at the opera you will be entertained.. Do you
not like the opera ? "

" Very much. But I am so delightfully entertained here that I
am loth to break the spell that binds me so enchantingly."

" Be thou still, Caius, I'll be Cala," laughing merrily she
said, .

" Lovely! Unsubdued love and frankness go hand in hand and
carry the livery of heaven," exclaimed Millyard, as he took her
right hand in his. " Can you then be angry with me when I tell
you that I love you ? Seeing love in your eye may I not hope that
the love in your heart is for me ? "

" You said that actions sometimes speak louder than words ! "
" So I did. So they do. I also am so happy."

" I also am glad," retorted Miss de Ampbert, with a vivacity that
was deliciously pleasing. " I first saw you at the Charity ball in
the Odd Fellows' Hall. It was my pleasure to notice your easy,
poised movement and how gracefully you danced. I desired
ever so much to meet you."

" Had you not come to that dingy court-room and become my
bondswoman I might never have enjoyed this delightful pleasure
and exquisite happiness."

" But I went. Now, I would go again several times," earnestly
she said.

" Sweetie ! " exclaimed Millyard; gently exerting a pressure on
her hand. Miss de Ampbert laughed merrily and, tossing her
beautiful head backward, said : •

" Say that again, please."

" Now you mock me," retorted Millyard.

" Nay, nay, nay," quickly she replied. ' You say it so nicely."

" Well, sweetie, the estro has to be on me when I say those
things."

" Keep the estro boiling. Encourage a centrifugal whirl."

" It is only by inspiration from you that it stirs. It comes not of
itself. There must be a cause to produce it. That cause in this
case is your own blood-stirring smile and quickening brilliancy
of speech."

" Why are not all men as you are, so charmingly agreeable? I
could easily wish I had been at school with you. I had my school-
ing at Paris, but I could never learn to admire the Frenchman,
although my father was a Frenchman."

" Why are not all ladies so charmingly captivating, refined and

120 The Lady of New Orleans.

brilliant as yourself? I answer your lovely question by asking one
of you in return."

" There are many reasons why there are disparities between
people. Environment and training in the youth have much to do
with evolving refinement and culture. I fear we will be late at the
opera ; we must go. Please be patient until I secure my opera
cloak."

Miss de Ampbert and Alpha Millyard were just in time to be
seated in her private box at the French opera-house when the
curtain went up.

Mr. Millyard had been there often before but never with a lady,
and his seat had been down in the parquette.

They Plighted their Troth. 121

CHAPTER XXI.

THEY PLIGHTED THEIR TROTH.

" d, my ! See the people looking at us," exclaimed Miss de
Ampbert at the end of the first act when she scanned the audience
through her gold-mounted pearl opera-glasses. Handing them
to Millyard, she added : " Look with the glasses and see if you
know any of them."

Mr. Millyard glanced over the animated scene and suddenly
said :

" Yes, there is Miss Sophia Cuyler, of Savannah, just opposite.
She is in that box where you see the flag."

" Is Miss Cuyler beautiful ? "

" I leave that for you to judge," said Millyard, returning the
glasses to Miss de Ampbert. " You can look and see what you
think."

" O, she is lovely ! She is with a friend of mine. That is, an
acquaintance. Do you know Miss Cuyler well ? "

" I have met her several times. I saw her at Black Creek Falls,
a summer resort in North Alabama, nearly every day during sev-
eral weeks one summer. There ! I also see Miss Salena Gordon,
of the Blue Grass. I met her in Louisville."

" Look at her with the glasses," said Miss de Ampbert.

Taking the glasses and looking, Millyard observed:

" She is looking direct at us. I wonder if she can recognize me?
You just can see her in that box to the left where there is a crowd
of people."

" She is handsome, beautiful," exclaimed Miss de Ampbert after
she had looked through the glasses. " Why have you not married
some of these beautiful ladies ? "

" Would you try to have me think I have ever met the right one
before meeting you? Fate for me has reserved such happiness
until I met you. For which, I thank both my God and you."

" You will say pretty things, no difference what I say."

122 The Lady of New Orleans.

" You cannot metamorphose yourself, neither can I resist the
speaking of my mind. You involuntarily draw me out, mind and
soul."

" I never had so many nice things said to me before by any
man."

" Ah ! You never had the right man to talk to you before," he
retorted.

" Continue ; it is frivolous, but it is delicious, from you."

" Sure ? No one else ? " he queried.

" I would not allow any one else the opportunity. There, now
you have drawn me out." A beautiful glow suffused the cheeks
of Miss de Ampbert and for the first time to him she appeared em-
barrassed.

" I did not know a woman could so fascinate and enthrall.
I am not surprised at John for leaving his crown for Matilda.
Suppose we go home? " Millyard said, appealingly.

" O, not until the opera is over," quickly she answered. " There
are three more acts. There goes the curtain."

The opera being over they were returning in the victoria to her
home when Miss de Ampbert suddenly inquired, in a very serious
manner and hesitating tone of voice :

" Would you ever make me jealous? "

''' Not for the world ! Jealousy is a godlike attribute, but I
hope my love for you is too well placed for me to make you
jealous. Why do you ask? "

' You gentlemen roam about so much. I ask the question be-
cause it would be so easy to make me jealous of you. And you
know, as you said : ant amat, ant odit mulier. A woman either
loves or hates."

' Were you to marry me I .should cease to be nomadic, if I am
so, and would prefer to remain with you all the time when not at-
tending to business."

'' Business would not keep you away. My investments are all
very good ones and my income, which will no doubt grow, will
more than be a competency for any indulgencies we may desire."

' You consent to marry me then? " eagerly inquired Millyard.

" That question I will answer sometime when we are at home."

They were both silent during several minutes. Finally Millyard
inquired :

" Do you know a Mr. Villeguini ? "

" The banker ? " she asked.

They Plighted their Troth. 123

" Yes. I understand he is a banker on Camp street."

" I know him very well. I own considerable stock in his
bank."

" What kind of a man is he? " Millyard asked.

" How? In what way? " she demanded.

" Is he a scheming-, bad sort of man? Mr. Delarue has dis-
covered that Mr. Villeguini is the prime instigator of all the per-
secution against me. It seems that he is infatuated with Miss
Bertha Rosenstin and asserts with much boldness and confidence
that because she loves me I shall leave New Orleans or he will
have me convicted and sent to the penitentiary at Baton Rouge.
I ween he desires to enmesh me in some way for a selfish purpose.
He has been paying money to Mr. Delarue and urging him to per-
suade me to leave New Orleans and never return."

" He shall do nothing of the kind with you," she exclaimed. " If
he persists I will see that Mr. Villeguini at once steps down and
out of that bank." She was displaying spirit and a little feeling
in the matter. " I wish you would please tell Mr. Delarue to
come to my house and see me to-morrow at eleven o'clock. I will
put a quietus on Mr. Villeguini's conduct." Then calming, she
added : " Aunt Jane intimated something of this to me, but I did
not understand. I will send for her in the morning and learn all
about it."

" Mr. Villeguini is very bitter against me," said Millyard, re-
flectively.

" The mean man. I thought there must be some secret enemy
at work against you. I know the girl is not doing it, for she is
desperately in love with you, so Aunt Jane says."

" No doubt. She told me herself she loved me. But it ought
to be readily understood that I cannot marry her. Nor would I,
nor did I, take advantage of her love."

" Yes, I am aware of those things. I want to see Mr. Delarue
in the morning, sure. I shall present the matter to the board of
directors of the bank at noon if Mr. Villeguini does not agree to
cease and to rectify what he has done."

By this time they had arrived at her mansion. She directed her
coachman to wait and take Mr. Millyard to his boarding-house.

Millyard required no pressing invitation to remain, though she
suggested that her chef had warm luncheon and hot coffee wait-
ing, for he remembered her intimation that she would probably
tell him at her home whether she would marry him.

124 The Lady of New Orleans.

After lunch, wine and champagne, they returned to the draw-
ing-room and took seats in the vis-a-vis chair.

" I presume of course," he began at once, " you have not for-
gotten a statement you made as we were coming from the opera?
I do not wish to be unduly bold or too fast, but I feel, and in fact,
fully know, that I could and would be happy all the time with
you. I would do myself injustice and my conscience greater vio-
lence were I ever to do anything or fail to do anything that would
cause you one moment's unhappiness. Will you not tell me to-
night, please, that you will marry me ? "

" Mr. Millyard, I believe I do love you," she said, demurely. " I
have been unable to conceal it. You are so charming and have
drawn me out so adroitly."

" Sweetie, will you let me marry you then ? " He asked the
question curiously, but he meant it, from what followed. " You
have something of this world's goods while I have nothing but my
profession and my brains. Were our souls united in fact as well
as in the bonds of love I am sure we both would be happy. Please
tell me to-night if you will consent to be my wife."

He held her hand between his two hands and gazed ear-
nestly into her liquid, sparkling, hazel eyes.

" Yes, Mr. Millyard ; I will."

Millyard as quickly cast one of his arms round her shapely
shoulder and neck and, pressing her heaving bosom to his heart,
planted kiss after kiss upon her beautiful crimson lips.

Looking into her glorious eyes, in rapturous demonstrations of
exultant delight, he at length found the effort to say :

" Now I can call you Sweetie? "

" All the time," she softly replied, and closed her eyes.

' Kissing her again he asked : " When can I say, my Sweetie? "
emphasizing the word " my."

" On that subject I have not seriously reflected. Of course it
will have to be after you are acquitted of that miserable charge."

" Certainly. I could not think of having you marry me before
that event. But I thought probably you could name the date and
make it contingent as soon after that time as possible. I prefer
not to have a long engagement. But I fear in my adoration I am
overleaping bounds."

" Nay, nay," she said, halting in her speech and then adding:
" I am so happy. It is a joy to have the love of a good, noble
man."

They Plighted their Troth. 125

" She got up and, walking into the other parlor, tapped the sil-
ver bell, then resumed her seat. When her maid appeared Miss
de Ampbert said :

" Tell the butler to bring us a bottle of frapped wine." Then
addressing Mr. Millyard after the maid was gone, she said :
" These servants are all very much astonished ; have their curiosity
aroused. They never knew me to have a gentleman here this way
before. They will make sure now that I am to be married. So
I guess the sooner the better. We may as well arrange to be mar-
ried immediately after you are acquitted. Then we can sail at
once for Havre on one of our steamers and go to Paris, where I
have a splendid home. It is furnished ; a family has it in
charge."

" You are a glorious woman," exclaimed Millyard. " And you
are a business woman. You will have to teach me about my
business."

" I thought lawyers knew all about business ? "

" Some of them do. But I am young in the cause and know
only some law and very little about business."

" Very well then, I will teach you about business."

The wine being brought in Miss de Ampbert told the butler to
give the coachman at the door a glass of brandy and take one
himself.

" I trust you will drink to her health," added Millyard.

" Are you sure you will love me always as you say you do
now ? " asked Miss de Ampbert in a serious manner.

" I hope I am not wanting in appreciation, and I should be if
I did not," he answered.

Miss de Ampbert slapped her tiny hands, tossed her superb
head backward and laughed merrily. They both felt their cham-
pagne.

" Speaking of my case and my probable acquittal," said Mill-
yard, " Shakespeare explains the case wherein he says :

' A man may see how this world goes with no eyes ;
Look with ears ; see how yon justice rails
Upon yon simple thief ? Hark in thine ear,
Change places, and handy dandy,
Which is the Justice, which is the thief?'

" I am being weighed in a tender balance scale. But I think a
word from you to Mr. Villeguini, coupled with a gentle hint, will

126 The Lady of New Orleans.

stop the entire prosecution and persecution of me without a trial
in court."

" The word and hint shall be given to-morrow morning- Mr.
Millyard."

" Call me Alpha, please," said Millyard, rising. " I must,
though reluctantly, depart. I am to stop overnight at the St.
Charles hotel. Mr. Delarue will be waiting for me there."

" Plus je vous voi, plus jc vous aime," said Miss de Ampbert, as
Millyard walked out in the hallway.

" I do not comprehend," replied Millyard. " Can I come again
to-morrow ? "

' In the afternoon, of course, I shall expect you," she replied.

" Repeat that French, please." She repeated it.

" Please translate it for me."

" You must learn French ; I am French. Look in the books for
it."

Millyard was repeating as near as he could all the while he was
being driven to the St. Charles hotel the French she had last
spoken. He bethought himself just in time to refrain from asking
the coachman the meaning of the words, so intently was he in-
terested.

The register of the St. Charles showed that Alpha Millyard was
"with" Mike Delarue, room 184. Delarue was " not in." It
was midnight. To find his room-mate, if not his room, Millyard
went to Johnnie's. Delarue was there waiting, half asleep.

'' By all the powers above us! " exclaimed Delarue. " If you
have done your duty you have made love to that fair lady ! "

" Mike, I did not only make love, but it is genuine. I have be-
come so desperately in love with the dear creature that it is a
mania. Neither does it stop there : I proposed and have been
accepted."

" Shake ! By all the Saints, two shakes ! Here, let's have a
quart, not less, on that. Waiter," cried Mike, enthusiastically, " a
quart of frapped. champ."

" By Jove, Mike ! I do not want so much."

" Eh, hey, had some down there, did you ? That's all right. I
expected as much. She has a thirty-by-forty-foot room full of all
kinds. She is the best catch in New Orleans."

" Ah, Mike, and she is the most beautiful, the most refined, the
most highly accomplished and the most intellectual. I have to prod
my mind ; and must needs go to school again or study more at
home. Mike, you say you know her ? "

They Plighted their Troth. 127

" Yes, indeed. Why, I told you I have known her since she was
old enough to be known. She was not so awfully pretty as a girl,
but she is now the most beautiful woman in all New Orleans.
Some of the beneficiaries of her bounty, which is large, call her
' the lady of New Orleans ! ' "

" And" such a graceful, easy carriage ! She seems to glide. I
like the Grecian outline and contour of her features ; the sparkling,
brilliant eyes, black tresses and such enchanting Hogarthian black
arches over those large hazel eyes that they kindle love in the path
of their rays. Teeth like pearls and the voice of a sainted angel.
Cheeks like Solomon says of the roes that are twins, alabaster, with
sufficient of the sunset glow immediately surrounding the dimples
to lend a halo of enticing loveliness."

" Bravo, my boy ! You describe the charming woman like a
Shakespeare," exclaimed Delarue. " Fill your glass again."

" Mike, she is withal a business woman, too. I incidentally
asked her about Villeguini and intimated what part he is playing.
She was indignant and asked me to tell you to be sure and come
to see her at her house to-morrow morning before eleven o'clock.
I promised, and am anxious for you to comply."

" I will go, by Jove ! even if it rains rocks ! " shouted Delarue
emphatically. " We used to have a little colored servant girl who
would sit out on the front porch and watch for any one of the fam-
ily to come home. When she saw one coming she would jump,
clap her hands in ecstasv and exclaim : ' Dar he ! dar he ! '
Now, not wishing to change the subject, but, ' dar he! dar he!'
Look at Volney, as he is reflected in that mirror."

Millyard glanced at the mirror indicated. He saw Volney re-
flected in the big mirror at the back of the room from the one over
the front door. Volney no doubt thought he was standing from
their view.

Drinking to Millyard's success and happiness, Delarue added :
4 '' Here is to the five hundred I shall strike Villeguini for to-
morrow before he gets put out of the bank."

:< Mike, if you do could you loan me a hundred to fit up for
the occasion ? I am to be married as soon as I am acquitted."

' You have made hay. Yes, two hundred. Half of it, my boy,
two hundred and fifty. All, everything but twenty dollars."

" Gracious, Mike ; you are too clever."

" Didn't you pick me up in the street? Am I not making the
money off you and your misfortunes ? "

128 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XXII.

MISS DE AMPBERT DESCRIBES MILLYARD.

Mike, how am I to manage about this dress suit in the morn-
ing?" remarked Millyard as they were undressing to retire for
sleep. " I should not wear this coat on the streets in the day."

" O, fluke ! Yes, you can. Get in the street car and ride up to
your boarding-house."

" Say, Mike, what did the Rosenstins have to say ? "

" Bertha is enraged with Villeguini. He had been there to see
her and her father. He wanted her to be a witness and swear
against you. She refused. She says she told him she never
wanted to see him again. Rosenstin has calmed down and is
taking things quite indifferently. He nor Bertha seems to have
known anything about the charge against you for seduction until
Villeguini told them. Bertha says the Recorder made the
charge; but you know as well as I do it was Villeguini's work."

" I wish you would please tell Miss de Ampbert about that to-
morrow."

" I will. I will tell the whole thing right straight through.
Bertha had been away all night, gone to some woman's house
where she stopped when she ran away the first time."

" I know ; Miss de Ampbert told me. With Aunt Jane down on
Dheumesneil street. Her sister is Miss de Ampbert's maid. That
is the channel through which Miss de Ampbert gained her infor-
mation about me. Miss Bertha told Aunt Jane and Aunt Jane
told Miss de Ampbert."

' That is funny. Aunt Jane down on Dheumesneil street used
to belong to my father. Her name is Jane Delarue."

" That is funny, too. So much the better," said Millyard. " See
her also and get her to tell you everything she knows about it."

" I will do that very thing. I am glad you told me about this.
Now I will get the complete history, as we historians say. Bertha
says she will not go to your trial."

Miss De Ampbert Describes Millyard. 129

" But she must in order to exonerate me. Besides, if she does
not attend it will give them grounds to continue the case."

" I will get Aunt Jane to persuade her to attend. That is if the
grand jury should find a true bill."

" That is a fact," said Millyard in surprise. " The grand jury
will have to indict me before I can be tried. Bertha will have to
go before the grand jury before they can make an indictment. In
my perplexity I had overlooked that important fact."

" Bertha declares she will not go. She says you never did her
the least harm whatsoever and she will not appear against you."

" The grand jury," said Millyard, " cannot, there goes another
button, present a true bill without evidence to support it. If she
sticks to the truth, and I think she will, her testimony will be to the
contrary for the finding of a true bill."

" I must hurry in the morning and get my five hundred dollars
before the whole matter is a dead cock in the pit," lightly spoke
Delarue.

" I am afraid I will not be able to collect half the money that is
due me," said Millyard, making ready to jump on the bed.

'' I will get money and you shall have it ; and you will be a free
man before next Monday night."

" Mike, you savor of a friend. Don't you know I am almost
glad all this happened to me? It has brought me two good
friends, Judge Cotton and yourself, and "

" A beautiful and wealthy wife," added Delarue, as he bounded
on to the bed.

" That is yet to happen," said Millyard, somewhat sadly.

" But she is your friend, to say the least of it. She has proved
it," asserted Mike.

" Ah, indeed she has," responded Millyard, as he turned off the
gas and got on the bed, saying : " Plus je vois, plus ju came."

"Plus je what?" roared Mike, laughing. "Now you dream
of Miss de Ampbert and I will dream of Villeguini."

" And that five hundred dollars ? " inquiringly added Millyard.

Next morning after breakfast Millyard boarded a street car in
front of the St. Charles hotel to go up-town and change coats.
He happened to take a seat behind an acquaintance, who said :

" Good morning, Mr. Millyard. I saw you at the French Opera
last night in the box with the charming Miss de Ampbert."

" Yes, thanks ; I had that pleasure."

" O, my! but ain't she beautiful? She looked more charming

9

130 The Lady of New Orleans.

last night than I ever saw her. All glasses were turned toward
her box. No one had ever seen her accompanied by a gentleman
in her box before."

" Indeed ! " retorted Millyard. " Then I do feel highly hon-
ored."

" I have long desired to become acquainted with her. I would
be ever so pleased if I could get you to kindly make me acquainted
with her. She has but few acquaintances, as I understand."

" I could not presume to present one to her without her per-
mission. The fact is, I have not been acquainted with her long
enough to warrant me in so doing. When I am acquainted with
her a little while longer then I could make bold to request the
pleasure of presenting a friend."

" Can you come and dine with me at the Shakespeare Club this
afternoon ? " That was one of the leading clubs of the city.

" You are very kind. I thank you. But I am not prepared to
tell you just at present whether I can do so or not. Therefore, I
will have to forego the pleasure this time."

Mr. Millyard got off the street car at his street and walked a
couple of blocks to his boarding-house. He changed coats, wrote
during two hours, then went down-town to look after his business
affairs and to join Delarue.

These were stirring times in the eventful career of Alpha Mill-
yard.

Aunt Jane being summoned by Miss de Ampbert, was at her
mansion at an early hour in the morning.

" He bin here? What sort looking man is this Mr. Millyard? "
inquired Aunt Jane of Miss de Ampbert. " Miss Berter says he is
the handsomest gentleman she ever saw."

" I do not know your Miss Bertha, but I think she is a good
judge in that respect, Aunt Jane," answered Miss de Ampbert. " I
will try to describe Mr. Millyard to you ; then you can judge for
yourself:

"He is about my age, probably a year older, about five feet nine
inches in height, weighs about a hundred and fifty-five pounds,
stands erect like a Corinthian column, holds his head up like a
Roman pro-consul, gray eyes like a lion, with an abundance of
white around the glistening pupils ; somewhat florid complexion,
though soft, clear skin to show the finesse, black hair, lovely black
mustache and imperial on his well-rounded chin, a strongly Cer-
vantes contour of face, very marked in affable manners and alto-

Miss De Ampbert Describes Millyard. 131

gether exquisitely charming. His conversation delicious, inclined
to the classic. In walking he uses his ankle joints and does not
bob up and down. I think you would admire him, Aunt Jane.
I first saw him at the Charity ball and admired him from the mo-
ment I laid 'my eyes on him. I thought he would seek my ac-
quaintance that night, and when he did not I was quite disap-
pointed."

" Well, I tell you, Miss Rittea ; from what Miss Berter says
about him and the way he acted with her, he is a gentleman, and a
mighty good man," said Aunt Jane, earnestly. " Lem-me tell you,
such good men as that ain't layin' round loose." Aunt Jane
seemed to be a judge of men, too.

The arrival of Mr. Delarue, and Miss de Ampbert's determina-
tion to interview Mr. Villeguini interfered with her further con-
versation with Aunt Jane for the time being.

When Alpha Millyard repaired to Johnnie's about one o'clock he
found Delarue waiting.

" Here, bring us a quart of the frapped widow," shouted Del-
arue as Millyard entered.

" Did you make it ? "eagerly inquired Millyard.

" And I've got 'er in my inside pocket," chuckled Delarue.
" Wait till we have a good lunch and drink a couple of bottles of
the good widow, then we will go back there privately and I will
give it all to you except twenty dollars. You see, it don't take
much to do me, only enough to get drinks and an occasional roost
at the St. Charles. Besides, I have considerable of the hundred
left."

" Yes, Mike; but if I get married to that lady I want you to be
present and look your best." Delarue had already discarded his
beggar clothing, but he knew Millyard referred to his habili-
ments.

" O, since I got a start, you give it to me, I can make money
right along. I have a new front on me, don't you see I have? I
got courage again. I am not cut out for a beggar ; haven't got the
shape and expression." Mike made a show of exhibiting his per-
sonal appearance.

" That is good. I am glad to hear of it," said Millyard. " You
look well. You improve by wear. I collected some money this
morning, but not enough to "

" This is yours," interrupted Delarue. " You shall have every
cent of it but the twenty. The old rascal tried to throw me off, but

132 The Lady of New Orleans.

I would not take nonsense. But I had to guarantee to him that you
would leave New Orleans by the end of next week and without
Bertha if you came clear."

" That is all right," said Millyard. " Your guarantee is safe.
Did you see Miss de Ampbert ? "

" Of course ! Here, give us another quart of the widow. I
told her all about the whole business. She was fearfully incensed
against Villeguini. He is in a bad row of stumps. I got her to
wait and not go see Villeguini until I had a chance to see him and
get my five hundred. Every time I spoke about you, especially
if it was anything pleasant, her eyes brightened, her cheeks
glowed and she was in a quiver to hear more. I am witness,
Alpha, that she loves you to her soul's deepest depth. When'
these French Creole women love, they just love all over."

" Did you see Aunt Jane? "

" By Jacks ! I must see Aunt Jane this afternoon. I hurried
for the five hundred before Miss de Ampbert got there. Her
interview with Villeguini will break up the game. Just as well
burn the deck, without the boy being on it, and leave the story
incomplete."

" Tell me something what Miss de Ampbert said about me. I
am an egotist and interested only in her."

" Great Scott or Jerry Jones ! A thousand and one questions,"
said Delarue. " But all just to hear me talk about you. Among
other things, she said she thought you was a charming gentle-
man. O, there is not a bit of doubt in my mind but that you are
her ideal man. By the way, she is looking for you this after-
noon."

" Yes, I told her I would come and I am going. When I got
in the street car this morning I had an invitation from Mr. Ed-
ward Flowers to dine with him at the Shakespeare Club this after-
noon. He wants to get acquainted with Miss de Ampbert. He
said he saw us at the French Opera last night."

" Yes, all the bloods will be running after you now," returned
Delarue.

" They must needs take it out in so doing. I have always been
charged with being a thoroughbred, so I claim the benefit.
Toadyism will make no impression with me."

" That is right, my boy ; sensible to the last," said Delarue as
he filled the glasses and emptied the second bottle.

" Here is one more to your happiness," he added.

Miss De Ampbert Describes Millyard. 133

Finishing their lunch and wine, Delarue invited Millyard into
the back room. He produced a package of money from his inside
waistcoat pocket and, drawing out a twenty-dollar bill, said :

" Here is the package of five hundred dollars just as Ville-
guini handed it to me, minus this twenty-dollar bill."

" Mike, I cannot permit myself to take all this from you. Three
hundred dollars will be enough for me, with what I have and
what I expect to collect."

" I will compromise on four hundred then," said Mike, " and
you give me your bills. I will collect them for you or make your
debtors give good reasons."

" Now that will do," acquiesced Millyard. " I am going to see
Miss de Ampbert about four o'clock. I suppose you will go see
Aunt Jane?"

" Yes, if you will put up with me at the St. Charles again to-
night."

Repairing to Millyard's office he got his accounts and handed
them to Delarue. Then they went to the office of Judge Cotton.

The Judge informed Millyard that his case would be brought
before the grand jury the first thing after its organization Mon-
day morning. This was very agreeable news to Millyard, who
then said :

" Judge, could you let me off for twenty-five dollars towards
your fee for the present ? I desire to pay you that amount now."

;< Certainly, young man, as you are a brother lawyer and in
trouble. If it inconveniences you in any way you need not pay
at present."

' The truth is, my business has suffered during my troubles. I
collected some to-day, but not near all. Mr. Delarue has kindly
loaned me some of what he got from Villeguini to-day. I am
to be married as soon as I am free and clear of this charge
against me."

' What? " exclaimed the Judge. " Not to that girl, I hope? "

' Not by any means, Judge," replied Millyard. " But to the
lady who signed my bond."

" Ah, Mr. Millyard ! Audaccs fortuna juvat" good-humor-
edly exclaimed the Judge. " I thought there must be something
in that transaction. Well, sir, you have my wish for very much
joy and unclouded happiness. Keep the twenty-five dollars until
a more convenient season."

134 The Lady of New Orleans.

" You are very kind, Judge," said Millyard. " Fortune favors
the brave sometimes, but not all the time."

" But the brave deserve the fair," quickly interposed Delarue.

" When I am cleared," continued Millyard, " exonerated of
this charge, which I hope you will see that I am, I shall in all
probability get married at once quietly and immediately leave for
Paris. Can I ask as a favor that you be nresent at my marriage? "

" Certainly, sir, certainly. With much pleasure. Just let me
know the time and place."

Millyard and Delarue went their way, Millyard to see
Mademoiselle de Ampbert and Delarue to consult Aunt Jane.

Millyard's First Practical Lesson. 135

CHAPTER XXIII.
millyard's first practical lesson.

Nearing Miss de Ampbert's mansion Alpha Millyard began
thinking of the French phrase she had quoted to him the evening
previous. He longed to know its meaning in English.

As Miss de Ampbert entered the parlor to greet him she
slapped her little hands together, exclaiming:

" Plus jc vous vois, plus je vous aimc! "

Hurrying to greet her with a gallant salute, Millyard inquired
the meaning of the words in English.

" I am tantalized," he said. ' Those words rang in my. ears
and were in my mind all last night. I was trying to think of
them while on my way here. You spoke them so sweetly. I
know they mean something nice else you would not have said
them."

' There, you are sweet of speech as usual. I am glad you have
come. We will sit in our chair."

" I have much good news to tell you. I have just parted from
Mr. Delarue. He is going to see Aunt Jane. She formerly be-
longed to his father. We had been to Judge Cotton's office. He
said he would get me to be a free man again next Monday im-
mediately after court opens."

" Then " She halted in her speech.

' Then," interposed Millyard, seeing that she hesitated, " we
will be married just as soon as you can — allow me. I am be-
ginning to feel myself again."

' The sooner the better," she said, nodding her head. " Aunt
Jane? Her name sure enough is Jane Delarue. I had not
thought of that. She was here to see me this morning and again
this afternoon. She said Miss Bertha was at her house all night.
Aunt Jane told her, which she ought not to have done, that you
were to be here for dinner to-day. Bertha was annoyed about it.

136 The Lady of New Orleans.

Did Mr. Delarue get the five hundred dollars from Mr. Ville-
guini ? " she asked quickly.

" Yes, and gave me the largest part of it. He is a noble man.
Villeguini paid it under an agrrement that he would have me
away from New Orleans by the end of next week and without
Miss Bertha. I would not have her, I could not. So he is safe
in that part of the bargain."

' Yes, and in the other also," said Miss de Ampbert. " I saw
Mr. Villeguini soon after Mr. Delarue was at the bank. I told
him plainly that he should lose his position in the bank and be
exposed if he did not have you exonerated, and at once. I told
him he had to put it in the newspapers and to do it in such way
that it would bring no reproach upon you or your friends. He
agreed to do it and said he would have it in Sunday's papers.
That is day after to-morrow." •

" Sweet woman, my Sweetie," pathetically cried Millyard. " I
do not know how I shall ever be able to reward you sufficiently
for your goodness and great kindness to me."

' Remain and dine with me," she said, laughing merrily.

' That will I gladlv do. But I must reward you better than
that."

" Love me ; love me much, very much, as hard as you can," said
she with emphasis, shrugging her shoulders and laughing again.

" I am already enjoying that blissfully exhilarating sensation,"
retorted Millyard, " and it is happiness to know that it is re-
turned."

" Continue so through life. That will reward me."

" I swear I will. Kiss me."

There were two souls with one thought, two hearts that were
beating in unison.

Nor is it strange that worth should wed to worth.
The pride of genius with the pride of birth.

Mr. Millyard, gallant fellow, saluted her again ; probably sev-
eral times. Demurely he asked :

' If I come clear on Monday shall we be married next week ? "
" If you say so, love," she replied sweetly.

' It would please me. Sav about Wednesday or Thursday."

' There is one of our steamers to leave Wednesday evening.
It will go down the river and be ready to cross the bar at daylight

Millyard's First Practical Lesson. 137

Thursday morning. I have an interest in the company and
prefer to go on one of our steamers. If you say so I will speak
to our agent here to-morrow to reserve and prepare for me the
best suite of staterooms."

' Then we can be married at high noon on Wednesday? " joy-
fully suggested Millyard. " But at which church?"

' I was partly educated in a Roman Catholic convent. Here
in New Orleans, however, I have attended a little Episcopal
Mission Church. I go there to help those people. They are
poor."

" That suits me exactly. I am an Episcopalian."

" Splendid, as you Georgians sometimes say. Then we can
have a five-o'clock dinner at home. I shall have only one
lady friend to attend and the servants, who are so good to me."

" I would be pleased to have Judge Cotton and Mr. Delarue
present."

' That will be the very thing. They can be witnesses."

' I will see the Rector of the mission," suggested Millyard, " so
that he will be sure to be at home and ready for us on Wednes-
day."

' No, no, no! You let me see him. I will speak with him Sun-
day after services. You must come and attend church with
me."

" I will be happy to do so. I have not accompanied a lady to
church in nearly three years. It was quite the vogue with us
for a gentleman to accompany a lady to church."

Miss de Ampbert got up and tapped the little bell. Resuming
her seat, she said :

' Talking over these business affairs of our marriage you have
become ennui; we must have some wine. But you do not drink
much, do you ? "

' Very little," replied Millyard. " I have drank more recently
than altogether previously. I shall prefer to do my drinking at I
home. You can then see how much and how little I do drink."
" That is the best way for a gentleman to do."
Her maid appearing, Miss de Ampbert gave an order for the
steward to bring a bottle of wine. When the wine was brought
Miss de Ampbert offered a toast, hoping that the article would
appear as it should all right in the papers Sunday morning, and
that he would be acquitted of the charge against him on Monday
morning.

138 The Lady of New Orleans.

Responding to the toast, Alpha Millyard impulsively said :

" Thank you, my dear Rittea; and that "

Miss de Ampbert interrupted, saying quickly in return :

" I thought the wine would revive the lurking estro of your
feelings. That is the first time you have deigned to call me
plain Rittea."

" It will be a pleasure to call you Rittea all the time. By the
way, is there an ' h ' at the end of Rittea ? "

" Nix," she quickly spoke in reply, laughing.

" I do not speak German," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
' But I would be pleased to become your pupil to learn French."

' Very well. I give you your first lesson after dinner, Alpha."

" I am so happy," exclaimed Millyard. " You called me plain
Alpha. That is the way we young people addressed each other
when I was at school. The rapid progress of my wooing has
quite dazed me."

" Because you addressed each other by your given names when
you were at school is the foundation for your schoolboy dream
or fancy of love, I suppose ? "

" I presume, to some extent," Millyard replied. " But I have
freed that lady from my mind. I wrote her a letter day before
yesterday and informed her I am going to Europe. I have no
doubt she is engaged to another, married, for aught I know. I
trust she is and has a good husband."

" I shall never again twit you about her or any other lady,"
said Miss de Ampbert, stroking her delicate fingers through Mill-
yard's soft hair above the forehead.

" My dear Rittea, that will be very sweet of you. It pains a
man, as it no doubt does a woman also, to have his sincerity
doubted, even seemingly, by one whom he really loves. That is,
if he is a man who is sincere. Though jealousy were a handy
thing to have."

" I shall never do so again. There now," said she with em-
phasis, as she kissed him, " you see I seal it."

Both of them had made assertions of which they knew but
little. It is wise in one to seriously consider before making as-
sertions as to what they will surely do in the future.

The dinner-bell jingled.

" Come, we will walk out to dinner," said Mademoiselle.

Mr. Millyard gallantly took her right arm and placed it under
and over his left arm. Thus they marched to the dining-room.

Millyard's First Practical Lesson. 139

The servants eyed them closely, especially so with regard to
Millyard, who had his black mustache curled at the tips. He was
looking- his best. Miss de Ampbert was handsomely, in fact, gor-
geously, gowned.

It was these little things, together with the dining on two suc-
cessive days and the French Opera in between which caused the
servants to begin wondering if something unusual was going to
happen.

Finishing their dinner with wine and coffee, the blissful dream-
ing pair returned to the drawing-room.

She asked him if they should attend the opera again, to which
he replied that he was at her service. She then gave the order
to her maid :

" Tell the coachman to have the carriage ready for the opera.
Tell him to turn down the top and take the white horses."

" Do you not wish to smoke ? Or do you smoke ? " she asked.

" Sometimes I smoke, but very seldom. I prefer not to smoke
now. I prefer to hear you sing and play."

Miss de Ampbert played some classic instrumental pieces and
sang a few songs.

" What about that lesson in French ? " Millyard inquired.

" You can come to-morrow and receive ze first lesson in ze
French."

" Zat will give me ze chance to come again. But, you see, I
wish to learn that French phrase which you quoted to me so
sweetly."

" Ah ! I will tell you what that means : ' The more I see you,
the more I like you.' "

" I should say : ' The more I see you, the more I love you,' '
he retorted.

" That is the correct rendition," she repked.

" Beautiful! I say the same to you."

" But you must say something original. You say them so
nicely."

" VVhen I get in your company everything nice I wanted to say
goes out of my head, like a candle blown out, listening to what
you say."

" There, that is nice. Thank you."

Miss de Ampbert had been softly stroking the oiano keys
during these remarks. They continued their conversation until
time to depart for the opera.

140 The Lady of New Orleans.

When she returned to the parlor gorgeously attired ready for
the opera Millyard suddenly remarked :

' There, I have been so delightfully entertained and interested
that I forgot all about my dress suit."

" Do not worry yourself about that, Alpha. What is good
enough for you to wear in my presence should be good enough
for other people. I have an idea that a gentleman should deport
himself at all times as if his sweetheart was looking right at
him."

' That was my first practical lesson in life," said Millyard.

" I thought so. That is why you are always so agreeable and
charming."

Between acts they were again the cynosure of scores of eyes
directed at them through lorgnettes.

Returning to Miss de Ampbert's home after the opera, Mr.
Millyard again became her guest at luncheon, and, at a late hour,
her coachman conveyed him to the St. Chr.rles hotel.

The lives of the happy twain were rapidly blending into one.

Villeguini Brought to Terms. 141

CHAPTER XXIV.

VILLEGUINI BROUGHT TO TERMS.

" Aunt Jane told me the whole story," said Delarue, no lon-
ger lean and hungry, as he flung himself on the bed, to be followed
in a minute by Millyard. " She said Villeguini had been to see
her only an hour before I got there and that he was furious. He
wanted to give her money not to say anything about what Bertha
had told her, but Aunt Jane refused the money. Then he told her
he would try and get the parties to drop the whole matter on Mon-
day if she would agree not to tell any one else anvthing about the
affair. Jane told him she had already told Miss de Ampbert
everything.

" Bertha came while I was there. She told Aunt Jane you
should not marry Miss de Ampbert."

" I guess Miss de Ampbert will be the sole judge in that matter,
for we are plighted, and by my troth, it shall be no fault of mine if
I do not marry her," exclaimed Millyard.

" Well, my dear boy," said Mike, " you are the quickest wooer
I ever saw, and lucky ! Good gracious ! Have you set the day? '

Millyard informed him they had, and added : ' That is if I
come clear."

" O, you will come clear now. Villeguini is having fits and
ague, prefixed and suffixed by fever. His physical make-up can-
not stand the strain. I knew if Miss de Ampbert saw him before
I did I would not get the five hundred dollars."

' Yes. she told me she saw him and laid some law down to
him. He agreed to have something exonerating me published in
the papers Sunday morning."

" I am afraid you are going to have trouble with that Bertha,"
sadly said Delarue. " She was very ugly about the idea of your
marrying Miss de Ampbert. Aunt Jane innocently told her that
she expected you two would be married after your troubles are
pver. Bertha became furious. I left her there. She said she was

142 The Lady of New Orleans.

going to send for Villeguini. But I guess he will steer clear of
her, at least for a while."

" I hope I will never see the girl again," asserted Millyard.
" She has been my bane, but is also likely to be my star-eyed god-
dess of fortune. Without her in my path I would probabl; never
have met Miss de Ampbert."

" True enough, sir, true enough," asserted Delarue. " And '
give Bertha rope, she will tangle her feet and break the legs on
which she pedals."

" I am afraid she will drown herself," said Millyard. ' She
intimated that line of self-destruction. She seems to be infatu-
ated with my shadow even, and her troubles at home have made
her a desperate woman.

" There is, I think, a verse in the Beggar's Opera which runs
something: like this :

*&

' No wonder any man alive will ever rear a daughter ;
For when she's drest with cost and care,
All tempting, fine and gay ;
She'll serve herself, as one should a cucumber,
And fling herself away.'

" It appears to me as though she may fling herself away."

" O, well, that will be another poor silly woman gone the way
of the world," replied Delarue.

" You look at it differently from what I do, Mike. You have
seen so much of the wickedness in life you are case-hardened. I
am yet young and probably too sympathetic."

" She is going to try to ruin you," retorted Mike. " See if she
doesn't."

" I can't imagine how she will do it."

" Women find ways men think not of when they are desperate.
You said she is desperate. I discovered down there this afternoon
that she is at least on that road. Villeguini will aid her,- secretly,
all he can to ruin you."

Next morning, Saturday, Delarue went collecting for Millyard.
The latter reported at his boarding-house. He informed Mr.
Frank and his family that he would probably be married the
next Wednesday and leave the city at once. After writing a
couple of hours he returned down-town. After visiting the office
where he had a desk he repaired to Johnnie's and found Delarue
patiently waiting.

Villeguini Brought to Terms. 143

Delarue explained that he had collected two hundred and
twenty dollars and had promises for metre on Monday. He de-
clined Millyard's offer for him to take a hundred and twenty of
the money for his drinks and " roosting " at the St. Charles, tell-
ing" Millyard laughingly to offend him no more ; then added :

" I am on my feet again ; I have the promise of a ' sit.' in a
wholesale grocery house on Gravier street."

'Situation? Fortune wipes her eyes and smiles," exclaimed
Millyard.

You supplied the handkerchief, now you don't want to allow
me to treat you square/' pleaded Delarue, rather sorrowfully.

' Well, Mike, just as you say. Have it your way. You shall
never want for necessaries as long as I have anything."

As they emerged from Johnnie's, Millyard remarked :

" I have an engagement to go back there again at four o'clock
and take a lesson in French."

" By jings, my boy, you are making something better than
hay."

" Heretofore I deemed it silly, but now I fully understand why
a man who is sincerely in love does not, cannot, remain away from
his love. It seems too long until four o'clock. But a man in haste,
like too many clams at a bake, makes waste."

" Yes, that has ever been the way with ardent wooers."

" I think I will decline to remain for dinner unless she insists."

" O, well, you will not be back here before twelve o'clock to-
night."

Sharp at four o'clock Alpha Millyard was again in one of the
parlors of the grand De Ampbert mansion.

" So you have come for the lesson in French ? " in soft musical
cadence said Miss de Ampbert. " When I was out in the city to-
day I stopped at a bookstore and purchased the proper book,
so that I can teach you sure enough. You can learn a little here,
catch the idea, and when we are in Paris you can secure a French
teacher."

" I prefer that you teach me," said Millyard, quite earnestly.

" That is very nice. It is quite true we shall have not much of
anything else to do except to see the sights, visit the art-galleries
and museums ; but you will need a teacher who makes it his busi-
ness to teach English-speaking people how to speak pure Parisian
French."

Telling him that he was fatigued, she rang the little silver bell

144 The Lady of New Orleans.

and ga^e an order for wine. Millyard's protest that he should not
remain for dinner was summarily dealt with by the reply that he
must. She added :

" We must attend the opera again to-night. You see, I am a
subscriber and have to pay for the box by the season whether I
occupy it or not. We must attend every night while we remain
here in New Orleans."

Wine was brought by the steward, who was a white man, a
Frenchman ; stiff-backed, high-headed, hair trimmed pompadour
and side whiskers.

Miss de Ampbert ordered the steward to tell the coachman she
was going to the opera and to give him a wine-glass of brandy.
" You may have some also," she added.

" Give the chef some," suggested Millyard.

" Yes, give them all some," exclaimed Miss de Ampbert.
" Brandy, if they want it. I feel so happy."

" Before drinking your wine? " naively inquired Millyard.

" I am intoxicated by you, with your being here."

" Glorious," he exclaimed, gently clapping his hands.

" You are so deferential to my wishes," she continued. " Will
you be thus always ? "

' Yea, even more so. I could not be otherwise," Millyard re-
plied. " If I am not, you must gently rebuke me. I do not like
harsh language ; it excites me.. I cannot placidly hear other people
quarrel. It unnerves me so that I invariably get out of hearing
as quickly as possible."

" I am glad of that. You will never hear harsh language from
me. I do not know what it is."

She proposed that they ride out the shell road after dinner, be-
fore the opera, to which Millyard agreed.

She rang the little silver bell again. When a maid appeared she
ordered that the coachman have the open carriage and white
horses ready immediately after dinner, adding: "And you have
my apparel ready at once."

" What will you do with all this retinue of servants while we are
gone to Paris ? " inquired Alpha.

" I will take my maid and the steward with us, leave the chef
and some of them here and send the remainder to my plantation.
I propose that we shall remain in Paris at least three years, ex-
cept what time we may be traveling over the Continent and
visiting the watering-places during their season. You will from

Villeguini Brought to Terms. 145

this observe that I have already made my plans. I have studied
over this while you were away. I wish to .make you happy."

" I am happy' enough in you, in your love."

" That is lovely. We will do then just as we may desire at
the time. But enough of business affairs for the present. Let us
converse about something more interesting. Say something sweet
to me."

" I wish I were lovely, like you," he said.

" When you do say something it is to the point," laughing mer-
rily, she retorted. " It strikes to the quick. I think you are
lovely. It is you who are making me feel lovely."

" An uncouth, unpolished young man as I feel that I am,
could not be lovely. But I hope I will grow better with experience
with you as my incentive and my guide."

" I do not wish you any better than what you are."

When Miss de Ampbert returned from her apartments after
dinner she was gowned in a beautiful evening costume. Calling
her maid she said : " Bring me a darker garment than this opera
cloak; I will leave this one here until we return from our drive."

They went far out on the shell road, across the bayou and down
it on the west side to the roadside inn near Lake Pontchartrain.
This is a most delightful carriage drive. The wide thoroughfare
soft and velvety, the grand lake mapped out in the wide expanse,
the great city in outline above the horizon to the east and south-
east, not a hill or knoll in the perspective, the bayou running
straight alongside the shell road like a grand canal.

The opera-house was crowded that night, almost as if it were a
Sunday first-night. Betwen acts opera-glasses were pointed at the
happy couple from all directions. There were also present the
same two ladies, the one from Savannah and the other from the
blue grass of Kentucky, whom Mr. Millyard saw the first night
he was there with Miss de Ampbert. At the end of the second
act they both bowed to Millyard.

" I wish I could meet your lady friends," said Miss Rittea.
" They certainly recognized you and bowed."

" It is too late now. We will not have the opportunity before
we are to leave New Orleans."

Arriving at her home after the opera, Miss de Ampbert again
requested Mr. Millyard to come in the house and take luncheon.
During lunch Millyard recounted what Delarue had said Bertha

10

146 The Lady of New Orleans.

told Aunt Jane concerning him. Whereupon Miss de Ampbert
said :

" I would warn you : beware of Miss Bertha. She bodes no
good but evil to you. If by chance you should see her pay no at-
tention to her or what she says. Pass her in silence. From what
Aunt Jane says, if you do she will abuse you."

" I will do as you say. That was my intention."

That night a few minutes before twelve by the city clock, Mr.
Millyard handed Miss de Ampbert's coachman a bill of U. S. cur-
rency as he parted from him in front of the St. Charles hotel.

Millyard and Delarue repaired to Johnnie's.

' Y"ou are prompt to meet my expectations," lid Mike.

" How is that? " demanded Millyard.

" I told you that you would not be back here until twelve
o'clock," answered Delarue.

" Look here, Mike ; there is one thing in life a man is excusable
for making himself a silly idiot about," said Millyard, earnestly.
' You see, she is absolutely irresistible. I will do anything she
says for me to do. Talk about hypnotism, or headnotism. I am
in it for anything she says. I am enlisted for life for her pleasure,
not mine." They had been at Johnnie's about ten minutes when
Mike suggested that it was then one o'clock.

"Let the hours slide ; I want Wednesdav to come," retorted
Millyard.

Being up so late caused them to sleep late Sunday morning.
Millvard bought all the Sunday papers. In two of them there ap-
peared a nicely-worded article about Mr. Alpha Millyard excul-
pating h m from any complicity in attempting to abduct Miss Ber-
tha Rosenstin and denying all the charges in any way reflecting
upor him with regard to her in any fashion whatsoever.

" I told you Miss de Ampbert would bring Yilleguini to time,"
said Mike, exultantlv. This is not the last time I will tell vou
truly."

Millyard informed Delarue after breakfast that he would walk
to his boarding-house, make a change of clothing, ride down in a
Barronne street car and meet him at Tohnnie's. After which he
was going to church with Miss de Ampbert.

That Awful Bar-Sinister Race. 147

CHAPTER XXV.

THAT AWFUL BAR-SINISTER RACE.

The lanes that fork unknown, the bridges that are suddenly
gone, the horses that stubbornly balk, the engines that collide and
the ships that wreck are all in the catalogue of possible catastro-
phes and may or may not be expected. Thoughtful persons equip
themselves as far as can be done against such mishaps.

Alpha Millyard was well equipped and thoughtful; yet he was
not omniscient any more than other men as to dangers which
might beset him.

As he was crossing Poydras street when walking up St. Charles
street going to his boarding-house after leaving the hotel he met
Bertha Rosenstin face to face before he saw the girl.

His first thought was of what his betrothed had said.

Bertha's big, brown eyes flashed wildly at him as she sullenly
exclaimed :

" I understand you are going to marry that Miss de Ampbert.
You would not marry me. You deceived me by telling me you
had an affianced tar-heel in North Carolina. Have you forgotten
her so soon? I will sue you for breach-of-promise. Rittea de
Ampbert, indeed ! She is nothing but an octoroon. Ah, ha !
Going to marry an octoroon, part negress. Her mother is a quad-
roon ; ha, ha, a mulatto. Her ancestors black. Ha, ha ! Negroes,
a negro and a negress. Fine gentleman you are. Now aren't
you ashamed of yourself? Reject Bertha Rosenstin, of rich and
aristocratic lineage, for the near-by descendant of a negress ! I
will go to that court to-morrow and have you sent to the peni-
tentiary."

This was not all she said, either.

Miss Bertha Rosenstin was exhibiting her degeneracv from her
aristocratic lineage and breeding. But she was a curious girl.
She followed Millyard during her remarks and the crowd fol-
lowed them both.

148 The Lady of New Orleans.

Alpha Millyard, exasperated to desperation, but restraining
himself, walked briskly but not too rapidly, and said never a word
in reply to the startling statements to which he was forced to
listen. Bertha Rosenstin's loud shouting, as well as the language
augmented the followers by every one in hearing or parsing. It
wlas a strange scene.

Finally Mr. Millyard got away from his tormentor without
having said a word in reply. But when he got free he had
thoughts. They were more desultory and startling than curious.

" I wonder if that beautiful, sweet woman is an octoroon ? ' he
mused. " No, no, no ; that is impossible. She is a French Creole.
[As white as white can be. O, pshaw ! Bertha is simply insanely
jealous. She will say anything to try and break off my marriage.
She said she would, and that I should never marry any one else
if I did not marry her. Rittea advised me to pay no attention to
what she said, which was prophetic, and that is what I did and
what I must do. I will renounce this Rosenstin female from my
thoughts. I perceive now she is not the proper sort of woman
for me to be acquainted with, much less to marry. Yes, a woman
who loves, either loves well or hates hard, like a mule kicks. I'll
no more of her."

When Millyard met Delarue at Johnnie's he gleefully and hu-
morously recounted the episode with Bertha.

" You must not tell Miss de Ampbert what Bertha said about
her," said Mike, dolefully.

" I must tell Miss de Ampbert about the woman abusing me,
but not about the vile language. I must also refrain from telling
her that Bertha said she is an octoroon. That would break the
dear woman's heart. Bertha's language about Rittea is as ab-
surdly and outrageously false as it would be for her to sue me for
breach of promise. However, Bertha Rosenstin cannot keep me
from marrying Miss de Ampbert. No one can except Miss de-
Ampbert herself."

" O, shucks ! Bertha is just crazy jealous. That's all there is to
it," said Delarue, as he ordered another bottle of " champ."

Millyard accompanied Miss de Ampbert to church ; they went
in her carriage. When services were over Miss de Ampbert re-
mained and held a conversation with the Rector. She arranged
for him to perform a marriage ceremony at the church on the next
Wednesday at high noon.

That Awful Bar-Sinister Race. 149

While riding back to her home from church Millyard took oc-
casion to relate certain features of the Bertha Rosenstin abusing
episode.

" What else did she say? " eagerly inquired Miss de Ampbert,
she seemed to know intuitively there was something being with-
held. Probably Millyard made a bad mess at concealing it.

' She said: 'You are going to marry that Miss de Ampbert,
are you? Reject Bertha Rosenstin? I will sue you for breach of
promise. I will go to court to-morrow and have you sent to the
penitentiary.' I do not recall all she did say. Mike says she is
crazy jealous. That is the way it also seems to me. I told Mike
there was but one person who could prevent me from marrying
you, and that person was you yourself."

1 Darling Alpha," she exclaimed. 'You are a noble man. I
have had presentiments. But now I have them no longer. I shall
be yours to Eternity."

Mr. Millyard did not see or think of the future only as it con-
cerned the happiness of Rittea de Ampbert. He said in reply:

" Darling Rittea, if I could love more than I did I now love you
and adore you more than ever."

" O, goodness ! I am so happy ! " Looking upward without
moving her head she closed the lids over her beautiful sparkling
eyes as if in token of unreserved submission to his will.

Arriving at her home she insisted that Mr. Millyard come in the
house.

' You have nothing to do np-town. If you have, let it go until
to-morrow. Please come in and remain with me until after
dinner."

" I cannot resist your will or wish. You are too sweet for me.
The only thing that stands between it now is I promised Mike to
meet him at Johnnie's immediately after I returned from church.
1 fe will wait there, till night in moping laze if I come not."

* If wine is what you want I have all kinds and brandies too ;
much more I guess than Johnnie has. Oh, I tell you. Go see
Mike, I mean Mr. Delarue, and tell him that I say for him to come
here at five o'clock and dine with us. Then you come right back ;
take the carriage. Sarah, tell the coachman to bring the carriage
back to the front and take Mr. Millyard up-town and bring him
back here again."

" I can return inside of an hour," said Alpha.

150 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Please do not remain very long," pleaded Rittea, as Milivard
was going out.

In New Orleans on Sunday, cafes and saloons are operated on
the United States plan, the open-door policy, the same as on any
other day.

From Beggar to French Opera. 151

CHAPTER XXVI.

FROM BEGGAR TO FRENCH OPERA.

" Well, Mike, old boy," said Millyard, " I knew you would be
waiting and secured respite only for a brief period in order not to
disappoint you, so we must be quick in what we say and do. I
left my lady's carriage at the St. Charles waiting my return."

;< First and foremost I must mention that I have a special
pressing invitation from her for you to come and dine with us at
five."

" Good, by thunder! I will do it," exclaimed Delarue. " Here,
waiter; give us a bottle, quick."

" A small one," added Millyard quickly.

Mr. Millyard lunched with Miss de Ampbert and they enjoyed
each other's society during the afternoon. When Mr. Delarue
arrived he was dressed in the very height of fashion. His
dandy appearance attracted the attention of both Miss de Amp-
bert and Millyard.

" I am glad you have come," said Miss de Ampbert. " Mr.
Millyard seems to want you somewhere near him all the time."

" I hope by so doing he does not excite any undue feeling in
any one," courteously but mischievously said Delarue. " I am
sure I like to be with him."

" But you must not prevent him from seeing about other af-
fairs," retorted Miss de Ampbert, naively.

" By Jove ! I cannot keep him away from you without lock
and key, even if I desired," replied Delarue.

She looked askance at Millyard and smiled.

When the champagne was served after the courses at dinner
Mr. Delarue proposed a toast. He said :

" I propose the health, long life and happiness of the happiest
couple in all New Orleans — present company, except myself."

152 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Clink the glasses ! " exclaimed Miss de Ampbert.

" And repeat the delicious quaff," said Millyard, who then pro-
ceeded to relate an anecdote illustrating Delarue's exception.

When they had finished the second draught — never, however,
drinking more than half of the wine from the glasses before the
steward, the tall, straight, stiff-necked, spruce Frenchman, would
fill the glasses again — Miss de Ampbert said :

" I propose a toast to our friend and guest. May he live long,
continue to be our friend through life, and always prosper."

'' Suppose we make that a bumper? " said Millyard.

The good old butler kept the glasses filled.

Presently, it being his turn, Millyard said :

" I propose a toast in which our guest will I believe join me
heart and soul. The one (emphasizing "the") above all
others ; she who makes our hearts so glad, and gives us such good
cheer, in beauty, voice and smile and dish and cup unsurpassed ;
she who is so radiant in goodness and loveliness, our fair, charm-
ing hostess."

"We will have to drink that standing and bowing," said Mr.
Delarue, rising to his feet while Millyard did the same, Miss de
Ampbert quickly following in like manner, smiling and bowing
in return.

The steward placed a wine-glass of French brandy at each
plate, which they drank and then repaired to the parlors. Con-
versation ran merry for a while. At length Delarue excused him-
self on the ground that :

" Two mates are good company and the third person is in the
way."

" I guess I will show Mr. Delarue the way up-town," said Mill-
yard, rising.

" O, no, don't you go," pleadingly said Miss de Ampbert, em-
phasizing " you." Addressing Delarue she continued : " Mr.
Delarue, it will be agreeable if you will please come back and go
with us to the French opera. They have a splendid bill to-
night."

' If you really desire it I will do so," replied Delarue.

" I have said so. I wish you would, please."

" You will contribute to the pleasure, Mike, I mean, Mr. De-
larue," added Millyard.

" All right then, I will come." Mike had evidently hesitated
before accepting the invitation in order to discover whether it

From Beggar to French Opera. 153

would be agreeable to Millyard At the last, however, it was de-
cided that Alpha should go and return with Mike.

The trio went to the French opera in Miss de Ampbert's
landau and occupied her box.

Returning to her home they partook of wine and a hot lunch.
As Millyard and Delarue were about to depart Miss de Ampbert
suggested :

' You must come here to-morrow immediately after you are
freed of the charge. I shall await your coming."

Millyard responded to the effect that his heart was set upon it.

While they were walking up the street, Mike said :

" Alpha, that woman is your goddess and you are her god. She
loves you nigh to distraction."

'It is deliciously sweet; don't you think so, Mike?"

'Yes; I wooed once, and won. But my sweet wife died," re-
plied Mike, sorrowfully. " I was left alone. It was then I com-
menced going down. I have a room at the residence of my mar-
ried sister. Her husband would never do anything else for me,
even when I was down. But I suppose he had as much as he
could do to take care of his own family. He has five children.
Well, I really did not want him to do anything for me, only to let
me roost there when I wanted to, until I could some day get a
start again. Now, that I have a start I shall pay him rent, though
I shall be there but little if any of my time."

Arriving at the St. Charles hotel, Mike asked : " How will it
do to nightcap before going to our room? I feel sad."

' We have night-capped with that French brandy ; but if you
feel sad, Mike, I suppose it may serve to cheer you, whether I
can or not." •

Being in their room preparing to retire in bed Delarue burst out
suddenly :

" From a street beggar to a rich lady's French Opera box in ten
days! By thunder! Ain't that rolling? Blast that button!
It's off — and with her too — the one that was so exclusive. You
don't know how humiliating it is to be a beggar."

" No, I never tried it, Mike," interrupted Millyard.

" I hope you will never have to," retorted Mike. " It pains
me; it racks me; it stirs my blood; it cows my very soul and har-
rows every nerve to meet a man of whom I have begged and been
refused. I will never beg another cent if I starve to death in the
midst of plenty. If Miss de Ampbert had known that ten days

i54 The Lady of New Orleans.

ago I begged on the streets of New Orleans she would not ever
have taken me with her into her private box at the French Opera
house, although she knew that my father was once wealthy."

" Yes, but she did know it," retorted Millyard. " I told her all
about you and about our first meeting."

" Well, well, thunderation. I love her myself."

" But you see, Mike, she likes you on my account," suggested
Alpha.

" O, yes, yes, yes; I know that," returned Mike reflectively.
" Well then, I love her on your account, because she loves you and
you are going to marry her. There is not another woman who
would take me to the opera with her under the circumstances."

" Right you are, Mike. There is not another woman like her."

" I coincide with you there, too."

" Well, to-morrow will tell the tale," said Millyard, dolefully.

" And it will be all right, a tale adorned with peace and joy.
Put out the gas."

" All right, but that brings up another subject," said Millyard.
' Your expression about the transition in ten days from a street
beggar to be the escort of a fine lady to the French opera reminds
me. Look in your mind's eye, see that assemblage of people.
Tell me, are each and every one of them going to heaven? If
not, which one of them do you think will be left? "

" Well, I see in my mind's eye that sleek, fat, chubby man with
the round, clean-shaved face, black derby hat, black cravat, busi-
ness suit, sack coat, and withal a fairly wealthy man. You can
see him on the street every day except Sunday, then you can see
him at church. I think he is absolutely sure to miss entering the
portals of heaven."

' Why, what's the matter with him? " asked Millyard.

" He looks all right enough, it is true," replied Mike. " But he
got his puny brother, who was diseased and ready to die, to in-
sure his life very heavily, nearly a hundred thousand, and then to
commit suicide. His brother left a will appointing him executor.
He then set about and swindled his brother's widow and her two
children, his nephew and his niece, out of the whole amount, ex-
cept two thousand dollars. He held out to the widow that she
would get nothing if he was to divulge how her husband met his
death."

" Do you see any others ? "

' There is Villeguini."

From Beggar to French Opera. 155

" O, he can repent, reform, as the vogue goes and be forgiven,"
said Alpha. " All reformers go to heaven, don't they? "

" Thunder and lightning! " whooped Mike. ;' If they do, no
wonder the whole kit are on the exodus reformward. Who is it
that does not reform, or say they do? Reform? Yes. That is
as easy as turtles sliding off logs into the water. But to repent ;
none but a true repenter can be a true reformer, and it is awful
hard for a true repenter to fully reform. The thief yelled ' Stop
the thief.' The poor fellow who had committed the sin or statute
crime, cried out in agony and repentance, ' I have reformed.'
Straightway several persons took it up and proclaimed that they
had ' reformed.' The crowd of people on the other corner took
up the refrain, and such a wholesale lot of howling ' Reformers '
was never known. It seemed that every person had been doing
something from which they had ' reformed.' Yet, look, individu-
ally they had done nothing wrong. They only joined the Reform
Howlers' Club in order to set an example."

" Mike, you would be excellent timber for a dominie. Your
views are theologically orthodox. I try to keep in mind the first
verse of the seventh chapter of Matthew. Still somehow I can-
not refrain from frequently thinking of some men that, should I
get to heaven and find them there, I would get in a corner and
flock by myself. Which side do you want to sleep on ? "

" I think as you do about those things. I don't care which side.
Tumble in ; I'll put out the gas. None but the brave deserve the
fair, none but the rich can have red hair," exclaimed Mike as the
gas was extinguished. Adding, as he tumbled on the bed :
" Over there is, h-e-r, her; add, as we English say, a he, and she
is here."

" The ' ludicrosity ' of that remark is so transparent that I see
through it at once," retorted Millyard, in conclusion.

Their hotel life, though limited to lodging and breakfasts was
aiding to cement the pleasant relations between Alpha Millyard
and Mike Delarue, as can readily be discerned.

156 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XXVII.

PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING.

Monday morning at nine o'clock Millyard and Delarue were at
the law office of Judge Cotton discussing the situation, and Judge
Cotton decided upon a line of action. At ten o'clock they were
at the court-room. The grand jury was being organized. Half
an hour later the assistant prosecuting attorney came to Judge
Cotton and said :

" The grand jury returns no true bill against your client, Mr.
Alpha Millyard. I will ask for an order to have him discharged
and the surety on his bond released."

It was not long before this was done, the Judge presiding re-
marking : " It seems to the court that the accused in this case
has good cause for action against some person, or persons."

Mr. Millyard stood well at the bar among those who knew him.

" If your honor please, I am looking into that feature of the
case," were the remarks of Judge Cotton.

Mr. Millyard proceeded as rapidly as the man possibly could to
the mansion of Miss de Ampbert. Dashing into the house past
the butler, Millyard yelled : " Rittea ! " Miss de Ampbert came
rushing down-stairs.

" I am clear! " Millyard shouted. " I am clear! I am free! "

Miss de Ampbert threw her arms around his neck in an ecstasy
of joy and resting her face upon his shoulder, softly sobbed:

" I knew you would be, but I am so glad."

Raising her head Mr. Millyard placed a hand on each side of
her fair face and kissing, then caressing her, said : ,

" Darling, you are shedding tears ; give me your handkerchief
and let me wipe them from your cheeks."

" They are tears of joy for you, on your account, and mine."
She said this in that superbly submissive manner which indicates
resignation and reliance.

" Yes, sweetie, it is consoling to know that they are. Come in

Preparing for the Wedding. 157

the parlor and let me tell you all about it." Mr. Millyard saying
thus, led the way.

He soon unfolded to her what had transpired at the court ; after
which she ordered the butler to bring them a bottle of wine. As
they drank the wine she disclosed to him her business plans.

She told him not to buy anything for himself but wait until
thev got to Paris. " I will now tell you all about my plans so that
you will understand them. I will get my money and my business
affairs arranged to-day and to-morrow. We shall not come
back here under three years, if then. We will take my maid and
our steward with us. He wants to see his people ; besides, I wish
him to attend to our baggage and do chores. I will have the
housekeeper and the chef and the chambermaid remain here.
The others and the horses I shall send to the sugar plantation on
the Laforouche. Oh, yes ; I must arrange with my real-estate
agents about the rents. I wrote my housekeeper in Paris last Sat-
urday that I would sail on this Wednesday, and to have the house
ready, as I would have company. O, I will have everything ar-
ranged. But you must not let me forget anything."

" Yes, but you see, darling, I do not know of what to remind
you."

" I will tell you all about it this afternoon ; you see I have to
think."

" Yes, and in order to allow you to do so I will go and begin
arranging my affairs."

" Close them out here entirely. You do not want any business.
Here is a ring which I purchased for you." So saying she took
from one of her fingers a ring set with a large cross of big dia-
monds and placed it on his finger saying: 'I watched your
finger to see what size would be required for it."

" Gracious ! " exclaimed Millyard. " How stupid I have been.
In my great joy, also the anxiety about my case, I have not
thought of procuring a ring for you. I must get one immedi-
ately."

" Do not get an expensive ring, I already have so many. But
of course one from you will be more appreciated than all of them.
You must return here for dinner. I shall write notes to Judge
Cotton and Mr. Delarue inviting them to our marriage. Be sure
to come back and dine with me."

A woman's will wins the way.

Delarue was not at Johnnie's ; so Millyard left a note for him

158 The Lady of New Orleans.

in which he appointed a time for their meeting. He then went
to his office and taking from his desk what papers he wanted car-
ried them to his boarding-house and placed them in his trunk
with his clothing. He returned down-town and eventually met
Mike at Johnnie's. They had lunch, 'alf an' 'alf and a bottle of
" champ," as Mike persisted in calling champagne.

" I collected two hundred and ten more for you, and here she
are," said Delarue, producing a roll of money.

'' Mike, you are the best collector I ever knew. I want you for
a partner. I will set you up in the banking business sometime,"
said Millyard, prophetically. " I cannot collect. I never could
ask for money even when due me, and never get it unless paid on
the spot. In that regard I am as you say you are about begging.
Mike, you must keep this money."

' Never ! I will do no such thing. There it is, take it ! " With
that Delarue flung the money on the table.

" I must get a ring, two of them," said Millyard. " This
money will probably pay for them ; come and -assist me in select-
ing them. I had forgotten about a wedding-ring until she gave
me this one this morning."

Mr. Delarue's father started out in life as a disciple of Strath-
mees the Greek, who was a descendant of a Hebrew and the patron
saint of jewelers, therefore, Mike, who was of French descent,
was supposed to know something about jewelry.

Millyard had observed the size of Miss de Ampbert's finger,
so the rings were readily selected, and Millyard directed the
words, " Alpha to Rittea," engraved on the inside of the one he
intended for the wedding-ring. From the jewelry-store they went
to see Judge Cotton.

' Mr. Millyard," said the Judge, " you barely escaped a punish-
ment that would have been absolutely undeserved and an outrage.
They had fully made up their plot to send you to the penitentiary,
so I have since learned. If it had not been for Miss de Ampbert
and our friend Mr. Delarue they would have succeeded."

" And you, my dear Judge," quickly interposed Millyard.

" They had bribed witnesses to prove the case against you," the
good old man continued. " They had that big longshoreman and
another fellow of his kind and that detective Volney. It was a
good thing for you that Miss de Ampbert came in your path and
silenced Villeguini."

" Ah, my dear Judge, I am too well aware of that. I know not

Preparing for the Wedding. 159

.how I shall ever prove my gratitude. But, to change the subject,
I am ready to pay you that twenty-five dollars."

" Let that rest, Mr. Millyard," quickly replied Judge Cotton.
" Use your money for your wedding."

" Miss de Ampbert suggested that she intended to write you a
note of invitation to our marriage, which is to take ulace at the
Episcopal Mission Church Wednesday at high noon. I trust
you will do me the nonor to be present. I will send a carriage here
for you and Mr. Delarue, the only persons I shall invite. Miss de
Ampbert will have only one lady friend. So you will have to be
the witnesses."

The Judge agreed and the details were arranged.

" Mike," said Millyard, after leaving Judge Cotton's office,
" can you see that man Villeguini, also Bertha, and try and ascer-
tain if anything more is going to happen to me? I have pre-
sentiments they are plotting against me still. I am going to Miss
de Ampbert's after I get the rings." Delarue assented.

" What lovely rings ! " exclaimed Miss de Ampbert when Alpha
produced them. " And they both have our names in them. You
made most excellent choice. You are a connoisseur of rings.
This one is our wedding-ring."

" Any way you say," replied Millyard. " I will have to hand it
to the Rector and he will place it on your finger and pronounce the
words which shall make us man and wife for life ; yea, Eternity.
If not, marriage were a mockery."

" I have been out and attended to much business," she said,
" but hurried to be here when you returned."

'.' I am afraid you were too much hurried."

" No, no, no ; I will go again early in the morning and remain
until the time in the afternoon for you to come."

" How sweet. Timing yourself to me already. Mr. Delarue
has gone to see Mr. Villeguini, also Miss Bertha."

" He need not bother about Mr. Villeguini. I frightened him
badly enough."

After dinner they took a drive on Esplanade boulevard, on
Rampart and other streets and across the bayou.

Upon returning home from the opera that night they partook
of a hot repast and drank some wine. Millyard refused the
proffered use of her carriage and insisted on walking to the
hotel.

He went by Johnnie's and found Delarue half asleep.

i6o The Lady of New Orleans.

"Ah, ha, getting ahead of me on sleep, are you?" cheerfully
exclaimed Millyard.

" Looks like I was handicapping you on that line," Mike jocu-
larly replied. " Here, waiter, a bottle of ' champ.' Was the
charmer pleased with the rings ? "

" Delighted," answered Alpha. " She is the most amiable
woman I ever knew. She is invariably delighted with everything
I say or do. She is modeled in the making for an angel. What
did you find out from those people ? "

" I knew you were lovesick, but you have it the worst I ever
knew. But I don't blame you," said Mike. ' Villeguini was
gruff. You have seen Patience standing by the side of a monu-
ment, named after her, wiien she was disappointed? Well, Ville-
guini looked that way. He condescended to say that he was sorry
he had given me that five hundred dollars. Think of it ! The
gall and wormwood. Picture him. He looked more forlorn than
the last man in the rear of the whole retreating army. He is a
changed man, entirely reticent. He was jostled when I told him
he must see Bertha and make her let you alone until you can get
ready and leave town, as I had paid you four hundred dollars to
leave by the end of the week. But he would not say what he
would do. I did not see Bertha. She was not at home, as the
servants say. Down at Aunt Jane's probably."

" I hope Aunt Jane will not tell her anything more about my
prospective marriage."

" Aunt Jane has a weather eye for Miss Rittea. Aunt Jane is
very discreet."

Tuesday morning Delarue again went collecting for Millyard,
who was at his boarding-house making ready for his marriage
and departure from New Orleans. Having no other use for his
desk and books Millyard gave them to Mr. Frank. About one
o'clock he returned to town and found Delarue at Johnnie's.
They had their wine and lunch as they usually had during the
last two weeks or more.

" This is the last time we will lunch together, Mike," said
Alpha.

' Yes, it is sad to me. Yet I am glad on your account."

" I am, I guess, as other men have been and ever will be, all
expectation and full to the brim with hope."

" By the way, Alpha, I got my place on Gravier street. I saw
the firm this morning. I told them I could not commence to-

Preparing for the Wedding. 161

morrow, as they wanted me to do, but would be there sure early-
Thursday morning."

" That is good ! I am glad ! Xow, I suppose we will have to
take two small bottles."

" I went to see Aunt Jane again," put in Mike. " Bertha had
been there nearly all the morning. She vows you shall not marry
Miss de Ampbert. Aunt Jane tried to put her off the track that
you are to marry by telling her that you are to leave town imme-
diately. I believe Bertha will shoot you or Miss de Ampbert, or
attempt it, if she knows when and where you are to be married."
' Mike, come go with me to Miss de Ampbert's," quickly spoke
Millyard. " A woman who faints at seeing a pistol would scarcely
shoo't to kill."

" All right," he replied, rising. " But I will not remain for
dinner."

" She will let you know about that."

" Come with me to a jewelry-store," said Delarue, " and let me
get her a wedding present. I am feeling rich since I have a
legitimate business situation."

" That is a good idea," said Millyard.

Delarue picked out a handsome silver toilet set and had en-
graved on the case, " From M. De Larue to Madame A. Mill-
yard."

'Heigho! You are French also?" remarked Millyard, glee-
fully.

" Yes ; like any American could be," retorted Mike.

It was about four o'clock when the two happy men entered Miss
de Ampbert's parlors.

" On time ! Ah, Mr. Delarue, also. I am glad you have come.
Please be seated. I have just been getting in and out the carriage
all day. I never had lunch until a few minutes ago, since I got
home. But I did much business. I want some wine and you gen-
tlemen must join me." She rang the little bell and ordered it.

" I have here something for you, Miss de Ampbert Or, not
exactly for Miss de Ampbert," said Delarue, with an accent on
Miss, as he produced the toilet set, as the jeweler called it, and
handed it to her.

She quickly glanced it over and, blushing, laughed, saving:

" From M. De Larue to Madame A. Millyard. Don't that
sound nice? Many, very many, thanks, Monsieur De Larue.
This is about the only wedding present I will receive, unless I
ii

1 62 The Lady of New Orleans.

get some in Paris. We have invited you, also Judge Cotton, to
be at our marriage to-morrow. You must come and be the wit-
nesses for us."

' We are coming. That is all arranged," replied De Larue.
Looking at the casket containing the toilet set, he continued : " I
trust you will never need it."

" Beautiful sentiment," she exclaimed. ' This is very nice of
you. I appreciate it very much, especially because you have
been such a good friend to Mr. Millyard."

" He has been a better one to me," replied Delarue. " But
I am proud enough and repaid to know that you appreciate my
poor present. Now I must go."

" Can you not remain and dine with us ? " she asked.

" I hardly think I can," answered Delarue. ' Two's a pile
and three's a heap, as log-rollers say."

" If that is your only excuse, you must remain," she said.

" When you say I must, that settles it, as Mr. Millyard says."

" Mr. Delarue has secured himself a fine position in a whole-
sale grocer house on Gravier street," interposed Millyard. Nearly
all the stores on Gravier street were wholesale groceries.

" I am glad of that," proclaimed Miss de Ampbert. " Later
we must get Mr. Delarue a position with us somewhere." She
emphasized " us."

Millyard incidentally remarked that Delarue and himself had
had their last lunch together unless they took another that night
at Johnnie's. To which she replied : ;> No, you will both take
lunch with me."

"Eh, hegh ! That settles that, too!" exclaimed Delarue.

" And you must also dine with us to-morrow," quickly added
Miss de Ampbert to Delarue.

Soon after dinner Delarue excused himself and took his de-
parture.

" 1 think I have everything arranged now," began Miss de
Ampbert in explanation of her plans. " You must have your
baggage sent to the steamer at four o'clock. I will have about ten
or twelve trunks and some satchels and a few bundles. The
steward will attend to them ; he will be there to receive your bag-
gage. He must be here in time to attend to dinner. I drew five
thousand dollars from the bank, which I will give to you to-mor-
row for our expenses. I receive something near twenty-five thou-
sand francs every month in Paris. But I can draw on them here

Preparing for the Wedding. 163

for money if we need it. I signed deeds to-day to you for the row
of buildings of mine on Canal street and to the sugar plantation,
for which my father paid one hundred and ninety thousand dol-
lars ; the sugar-house alone cost that amount. I had my stock in
Mr. Villeguini's bank transferred to your name. He was aston-
ished, but" I told him nothing. I have other property and stocks
here besides this which I give to you. I intended to give you my
Street Railway stocks. I knew I would forget something. But I
think I can write a note and send the steward in the morning.
Now, you see, I am going to be your wife."

Mr. Millyard remained until after eleven o'clock, promising to
return at eleven o'clock next morning. She had informed him,
however, that she had engaged a florist to decorate the church
and that he would also decorate her parlors and the dining-room
early next morning.

Mr. Millyard found Delarue at Johnnie's.

"Mike, what do you think? My darling affianced has made
me deeds to a large quantity of her property and all her stock in
Villeguini's bank."

" Mr. Millyard," said Delarue, " she will make you as good a
wife as a man ever had. I know her. I know all about her. You
see, I am from French ancestry also. De and Larue, as you Eng-
lish would say. But it is pronounced as if spelled d-e-a-1-a-r-u-e,
De Larue. My father and her father were great friends. Her
father made money where other men lost. He was exceedingly
wealthy. Nearly the whole of his vast fortune was deeded and
transferred to Ritt< and another daughter in Paris before he
died. His grandfather had been a friend of Napoleon Bonaparte
while he was yet a corporal, and subsequently furnished his com-
missariat while he was at his zenith. It was thus that the grand-
father laid the foundation for his grandson's tremendous fortune.
This Frenchman, Rittea's father, was a worthy successor. He
turned everything into money."

" Has she a sister or half-sister in Paris? " Mr. Millyard may
have been impetuous and too previous in asking this question of
Delarue and not let Rittea tell him first, but it was a new life to
him.

" You will find out about that when you get over there. I guess
she desires to take you by surprise."

" I see, I see. That is just exactly the case," responded Mill-
yard. " I have noticed she will not tell anything of a dispropor-

164 The Lady of New Orleans.

tionate nature until the acme of the incident presents itself, in
writing, as it were. A delicious surprise, so agreeable to the
average female."

" No, she will not tell anything about it," quietly added De-
larue, " until the proper time. You are quite right in depending
c:i that."

'It is a trait that works pleasurablv on both sides, to both
parties," said Alpha. " It is by no means displeasing."

' This is my last night with you, eh? Mike? " remarked Mill-
yard, as they were preparing to get in bed at the St. Charles
hotel that night.

' That induces me to think," replied Mike, rather sorrow-
fully, as he sat no in bed with the covering half pulled on him.
" Ring the bell and let us have another."

" Mike, we have had enough," pleaded Millyard.

" O, shucks ! One more."

" Not to-night, Mike ; I have quit to stay quit, only on special
occasions."

" Good," cried Mike, in a fit of laughter. " I join you in the
chorus. No more for me after you are gone. I am going into
business."

" Shift over on the back side there," said Millyard.

" Good enough," replied Mike. " You shift out the gas. How
are you going to sleep ? " Shifting the wind had been the refrain
of a story Millyard had told.

" In dreamland with my eyes shut."

" I wonder what has become of your Hebrew-Irishman ? " sud-
denly asked Mike.

" He will turn up sometime, surely and shorely. If not he will
have to remain turned down. I guess he never saw Bertha," re-
plied Alpha.

There was surely a Divinity shaping the ends of Alpha Mill-
yard and Mike Delarue. No two men ever became warmed to
each other as quickly as they. It was like young ducks leaving
a chicken-hen mother and taking to water, so easy. Mike was
beginning to grow fat, fleshy ; so was Millyard. Such is natural.
Their altered conditions admitted and approved of it.

Awful Tragedy Averted. 165

CHAPTER XXVIII.

AWFUL TRAGEDY AVERTED.

Just as Delarue was parting from Millyard in front of the St.
Charles hotel that eventful Wednesday morning Miss de Amp-
bert's coachman drove up with her carriage and horses. The
polite coachman respectfully informed Mr. Millyard that Miss de
Ampbert had instructed him to place himself and the team at his
disposal. He also stated that she desired him to be at her resi-
dence by eleven o'clock.

This was somewhat of a relief to Millyard in his frame of
mind. He had been perturbed. Of course, he had a right to be
so, but he knew not the cause. It is well to grease the axle of
thought and make it roll, be the road smooth or rugged and rocky.
It is like the toboggan, easy, or a human catastrophe occurs as an-
other incident along the line in life.

Mr. Millyard folded his tent, as it were. Requesting the kind
and generous-hearted Mr. Frank to have his trunk and other
things at the steamer by four o'clock and bidding him and his
whole-souled frou and all the family adieu, Millyard was soon
again with Delarue at Johnnie's. Mike was standing on the ban-
quet waiting for him when he alighted from the carriage.

When they were parting Millyard handed Delarue a twenty-
dollar bill and requested him to secure a carriage for Judge Cot-
ton and himself and be sure to be at the church a few minutes
before twelve.

Mr. Millyard had been in the parlor only a few minutes before
Miss de Ampbert made her appearance gorgeously gowned in
the richest of wedding apparel. After greetings and a gallant
salute by each, Miss de Ampbert inquired : " Do I look all
right ? " '

' Perfect ! You are a paragon of loveliness ! " he exclaimed.
" The most beautiful and the sweetest woman in the world ! "

1 66 The Lady of New Orleans.

" I want to introduce you to my friend ; here she comes,"
quickly spoke Miss de Ampbert. " I present my intended hus-
band, Mr. Alpha Millyard, Miss Weightman, Miss Arrebelle
Weightman."

Miss Weightman was a woman of remarkable personality. Dis-
tinguished in appearance and strikingly beautiful, a brunette.
Tall and graceful, with charming manners. She was handsomely
gowned. One would have judged her to be about twenty-four
or twenty-five years of age.

Repairing to the dining-room, the three partook of a light
lunch, with claret. Soon they were in the carriage and on their
way to the little mission church.

Meantime there had been another and a sadly different kind of
incident going on.

In the early morning Aunt Jane hurrLdly went from her home
to the mansion of Miss de Ampbert and sought the steward pri-
vately. She informed him that Miss Bertha Rosenstin had by
some means ascertained that Miss Rittea was to be married that
day to Mr. Millyard and had come to her house vowing she
would shoot Miss de Ampbert as she was going to the church.
She declared, said Aunt Jane, that Mr. Millyard should not marry
that octoroon. That Miss Bertha had a pistol and had gone from
her house in the direction of the church. Louis, the stiff French-
man, told Aunt Jane he would go at once and notify the chief of
police and the chief of detectives.

As there was no margin of time to be lost, Louis hurried to
the offices of those officials and got them to detail a force of men
to visit the scene and be on the alert for the warlike woman.

One of the detectives, and he was not Volney, proceeded to
Aunt Jane's house. He found that Bertha had returned there
and was then in the house. The officer then anchored himself
around the corner and watched. When Bertha came out and
started towards the church the detective followed close behind her.
Bertha sped on and the officer, who was clothed in citizen's dress,
quickened his pace in accordance. He kept as near to her as
possible. When within less than a square of the church a carriage
passed them. Faster and faster, almost to a run, went Bertha.
She rightlv judged it to be the carriage containing the bride and
groom. The officer accelerated his gait to meet if not even to
exceed that of Bertha. He knew he must intercept her before
she reached the carriage as it halted.

Awful Tragedy Averted. 167

The church was located in an open lot, a few firs and magnolias
and other small trees and shrubbery in front.

As Miss de Ampbert's carriage came in sight of the church
Mr. Millyard cried out:

" Look at those" -two policemen at the" church, in the grove
there ! "

" Yes, indeed," responded Miss de Ampbert. " What can it
mean? I do hope they are not after you again."

" My heart is in my throat," returned Millyard, falteringly.

The two policemen came, meeting them briskly, but rapidly _
passed on by, as they tipped their helmets.

" I am so glad they did not want you," exclaimed Miss de
Ampbert, showing her feeling by her action as well as words.

" I suppose they are here to prevent intrusion by curious outsid-
ers," reassuringly remarked Miss Weightman.

The carriage halted at the church ; the coachman got down
quickly from his box and opened the carriage door. Another in-
stant and Mr. Millyard was on the ground extending his hands
towards his bride, who was reaching a dainty foot down to the
carriage step.

With an extra effort Bertha rushed forward brandishing an
ugly-looking revolver in her hand, pointing direct at the place
where the bride would alight. Bertha made an effort to dodge
around the two advancing policemen so as not to shoot them.
But the more she tried to dodge them the more they tried to
get in front of her. Bertha's hat had been left behind in her
wild chase and her long hair was flowing back like a wild horse's
tail in a rolling wave. Her eyes were gleaming. The detective in
citizen's clothes, who had been following, made a desperate lunge
forward and grasped Bertha round the shoulders and grabbed
the revolver just in time for the hammer of the little mischief -
making pistol to come down on the fleshy part between his
thumb and index finger as Miss de Ampbert stepped on the
ground. In a moment more and the two other policemen had
wrested the revolver from Bertha's grasp, but at the same time
fearfully lacerating the detective's hand.

Bertha was quietly marched away, finally to the central police
station.

After the policemen had Bertha under control, one on each
side holding her arms, she exclaimed :

" I want to kill that octoroon ! She shall not marry that man !

1 68 The Lady of New Orleans.

She is deceiving him ! " Such a charge was a serious one to
make.

' Yes, but they are in the church being married by this time,"
said one of the policemen.

" I will lay in wait and shoot -her yet! I'll shoot her the first
time I see her. I don't care if I shoot him, too!" cried
Bertha.

Nothing of this semi-tragedy was known to those who had been
occupants of the carriage. Their heads were turned toward the
little sacred edifice where their happiness was to be consum-
mated.

All of the De Ampbert servants were present as were also
Judge Cotton and Delarue. After the ceremony and congratula-
tions, the Rector, Judge Cotton and Mr. Delarue, after signing
the marriage certificate, accompanied the bride and bridegroom
to the carriage.

Mrs. Millyard, as she was now, insisted that all three of them
should come and dine with them that afternoon, to which they con-
sented.

' Mr. Delarue, you must come and go with us now," said Mrs.
Millyard. " Be seated Jiere by the side of Miss Weightman.
Judge Cotton will excuse you, won't you, Judge? "

' Certainly, Madame, to be in such fair company," lie replied.

After arriving home they all had champagne and a sumptuous
lunch. Oyster patties, baked and stuffed soft-shell crabs, pom-
pano salad, artichoke boiled, et cetera, such as New Orleans alone
furnishes. Delarue became very assiduous in his attentions to
Miss Arrebelle Weightman, and Mrs. Millyard encouraged it.

After returning to the drawing-rooms Delarue sided to Mill-
yard and said, before they were seated :

" I got forty more for you to-day."

"You must keep that for yourself, Mr. Delarue," pleadingly
said Millyard.

" Nothing of the kind," replied Mike; " I will not. I told you
I have a situation."

' Never mind then, dear Alpha," said Mrs. Millyard, who over-
heard the latter remarks, " we will make it all right for Mr.
Delarue."

" Mike, would it be asking too much for you to go to my ex-
boarding-house and see about getting my baggage to the
steamer ? "

Awful Tragedy Averted. 169

" No, sir ; " he replied quickly. ' Not in the least. That is
what I am here for ; trying to find out what I can do for you or
your charming A'ife. I will go and attend to it immediately."

" Mr. Delarue, be sure and be back here in -time for dinner,"
added Mrs. Millyard, as Mike was going out.

" Of course I will ; Mr. Millyard's disease is contagious," re-
sponded Delarue as out the door he went.

' That man is the most upright man I ever knew," remarked
Millyard to his bride.

;' He seems to be a splendid gentleman," Miss Weightman ven-
tured to say, she having heard their latter remarks.

" He most surely is devoted to Mr. Millyard," interposed Mrs.
Millyard. " Alpha befriended him when he actually needed aid.
He shows that he is grateful; that is a quality to be regarded. I
will go in the library and make out a check to him right now for
three thousand dollars, date it yesterday and mail it to him. He
will not get it until we are gone." She proceeded to do as she
said she would. Miss Weightman excused herself and repaired
to her apartment.

" Come up to my — our apartments, Alpha, my dear. I wish
to give you those papers, the deeds and the money, which is in
gold, and explain to you more fully my business affairs so that
you can look after them."

' My sweet wife's apartments," exclaimed Millyard as they en-
tered. ' Rut it may be a long time before we shall occupy them
together."

' We have just as nice ones in Paris, if not nicer."

She gave him the deeds to the real estate and the certificates of
stock in the bank ami street railway and the money. Then she
explained her business affairs to him.

When Delarue returned he found the wedding-party in the
parlors enjoying themselves. He excited their curiosity by re-
marking:

" I found out why those policemen were at the church. But
I do not feel myself at liberty to make it known until you are on
board the steamer."

' Was it anything abtout Mr. Millyard ? " eagerly asked Mrs.
Millyard.

" Not exactly; that is, not directly," he replied.

Judge Cotton spoke in his voluminous voice ; " O, they had

1 70 The Lady of New Orleans.

to attend to their duty. They are to preserve peace and order for
the benefit of citizens, for society."

" O, yes ; I see. Of course," said Mrs. Millyard, seemingly
satisfied.

They had a " splendid " dinner, as the Georgians say, accord-
ing to Mrs. Millyard. Toasts were proposed and to each and every
one the appropriate speech was made.

The De Ampbert servants were at the wharf to see " Miss Rit-
tea " depart for France with her husband. Mr. Mike Delarue,
though somewhat sad, was anticipating every little needful thing
to be done. The three, the bride and groom and himself, standing
on the deck, he said :

" Look beyond, over those handkerchiefs waving at you,
Madame, and you can see the hole in the wall where Mr. Mill-
yard had such a narrow escape from abduction."

" Ah, Mike," interposed Millyard, " that scene is sad indeed.
Had it not been for your faithful friendship I could not be here
now."

Not the least noticeable feature of the parting salutations to the
bride were bevy upon bevies of poor people who had been bene-
ficiaries of her bounty. Standing on the levee they waved their
hands, hats and handkerchiefs, shouting, some in French and
some in Spanish, others in English : " Adieu to the good lady of
New Orleans ! Adios, my lady, bon voyage to the lady of New
Orleans ! Come back again, sweet lady, to your own New
Orleans."

It was affecting. Such a parting salutation on such, or on any
other, occasion is sufficient to inspire one with the wish that he
had given more to the poor and distributed it more broadly.

The large steamer was ready for her sea journey. Mr. De-
larue must needs go ashore. As he was leaving Millyard called
him and said :

" Mike, go to the post-office in the morning. There is a letter
there for you." .

Mike thought he referred to the verses Alpha wrote and which
were set to music: ' There's a Letter There for You." So Mill-
yard had to reassure him as he ran down the gangway.

The servants, Delarue, the good Mr. Frank, the poor people
and some other acquaintances shouted and waved hats, hands and
handkerchiefs as the big steamer pulled away from the wharf out

Awful Tragedy Averted. 171

into the middle of the great stream and glided on down the great
Mississippi river.

After the steamer turned the bend and sight was lost of those
on shore, reflections upon those things left behind were the first
thoughts to seize the minds of Mr. and Mrs. Millyard.

' There ! I forgot something." It is ever thus, the thing
" forgot " is the thing thought of first. Mrs. Millyard thought
of something. She said :

" Mr. Delarue did not tell us why those policemen were at the
church."

" He mentioned the matter incidentally to me," Mr. Millyard
stated, " but said your steward could tell us all about it."

" We must have Louis tell us," suggested Madame Millyard.

The newly-married couple, under auspicious conditions for their
honeymoon, had the best suite of staterooms on the steamer, ele-
gantly fitted for the occasion by «the agents of the company. Mrs.
Milliard's maid, Sarah, and Louis, the stiff-backed steward, had
all things arranged in complete and perfect order for the ocean
voyage.

Love on, ye sweet ones ; you know not what bitter sighs and
grief may be yet in store.

Rittea and Alpha looked with lovers' eyes and spoke with
lovers' tongues. In the language of a classic : " Jupiter in steal-
ing Europa was not more happy than they. And like them, while
swimming from Phoenicia to Crete, as witty Lucian records it,
' may the winds hush, their sea be calm and a Neptune and Am-
phitrite ride in a chariot before to break the waves that they may
not too roughly visit them. And may Tritons dance about them,
with every one a torch to light their way, with sea-nymphs, half-
naked, keeping time on dolphins' backs, follow in their train,
singing beautiful hymns, and Cupid nimbly tripping on top of the
waters, while Venus follows closely after in a tortoise-shell strew-
ing roses and flowers on their devoted heads."

!72 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XXIX.

EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY.

" In Nature's path a mystic legend lay
Unseen for ages. Not in waving fields,
Nor in the glow that Summer's blossom yields
Was't writ ; but in the dust and ashes gray.
At length came one whom the fair earth did sway
With yearnings deep — one who did love all hills
And rocks as Nature loves ; he felt her thrills
Of mystery and turned his steps that way,
Reading with seer's eye her magic line.
Far 'neath the furrowed clay he caught a gleam
Of color all divine and knew his dream
Fulfilled. He saw the emerald jewel shine,
And send its sparkles up to greet the light,
Through unsunned shadows flashed the—' Hiddenite.' "

The foregoing lines signed "J. W. M.," and published,
brought about the marriage of the parties thereto, who are New
Yorkers, and of whom the gentleman, if not intimately is, at
least, indirectly associated with this narrative, and has his name
imperishably recorded in the literature of gems.

Leaving for a while the happy married pair who are crossing
the ocean we return to another twain who are also as one, Mr.
Dalgal and wife.

" Look here, wifie," remarked Galen Dalgal, Esquire, to Mrs.
Dalgal some few months subsequent to their marriage, " a man
representing himself as an expert assayist, chemist and mineralo-
gist came into my office a few weeks ago and obtained from me
a written agreement permitting him to examine that tract of land
over in Alexander County which I got from Judge Selia to see if
there are any minerals on it. You remember some one told me
there is gold and green diamonds on it ? Mooney's report verified
it; he saw them in the ground. So that's the reason I gave this
man a permit. But I had to agree to let him have all he found in
prospecting. You all said I dreamed about it and wanted to dis-

Extraordinary Discovery. 173

courage me. If I dreamed, I've dreamed again ; it's a dead sure
thing."

" Have you heard from him? " gently inquired Mrs. Dalga!.

" Yes, the expert came into my office to-day and not only veri-
fied what Mooney saw with his goggle eyes, but gave me these
samples." So. saying, Mr. Dalgal proceeded to extract from the
depths of his trousers pockets broken rocks and stones which
were glittering with lumps of gold. He also produced a couple
of green gems which sparkled like diamonds. The latter were
about the size of an ordinary blue lead-pencil, and were ulti-
mately sold for $300 and $350 each. Placing them on a little
table where Mrs. Dalgal could examine and admire them, he
added, with enthusiasm :

" There is an overwhelming, overflowing fortune in it for us."

" O, my ! You have dreamed to some advantage then, haven't
you ? " softly remarked Mrs. Dalgal.

" Go ahead ! Call it dreaming ; there's nothing like it. An-
other thing, I have not missed hitting the crack in the floor or on
the sidewalk since the day before I made that trade with Judge
Selia. And, by the way, I heard about Mr. Alpha Millyard to-
day. Mr. Dheumazeil of New Orleans told me he married a beau-
tiful heiress in New Orleans some time ago and sailed for Europe,
France, Paris, I think."

" We will forget about him," softly suggested Mrs. Dalgal. " I
think you are by far the best man. Is it good luck to do as you
say?" Smiling, she added: " If it is good luck for you I must
practise it."

" Yes, but you must do it without thinking about it. It is
better luck for me than looking accidentally at the new moon un-
obstructed over the right shoulder. I don't know which is the
risjht shoulder to look over. I never could have r.nv luck at that.
Somehow I nearly always see the new moon through the boughs
of a tree and hardly ever over my right shoulder. Some people
think there is no such thing as luck, but the good old experienced
David could not have been that badly in the wrong ; he records in
his Psalms that there is."

" What is the idea, the force and reason, for hitting, as you
call it, the crack in the floor?" asked Mrs. Dalgal, somewhat de-
murely.

" It is just this," replied Dalgal. " It teaches me to be careful,
punctual, precise ; to think what I am doing. It requires one toibe

i74 The Lady of New Orleans.

methodical and have an object in view. That is all the lesson,
rhyme or reason I can see in it. As for stepping across the line
and not on it, the lesson is about the same. It causes one to look
where they are walking, to be cautious, with good measured tread
and methodical. There is in reality no superstition in it, only as
one does peradventure try in his own imagination to make it so.
For -a fact it is a better aid to rectitude than any secret order ini-
tiating ritual."

' Has this expert left town? " asked Mrs. Dalgal. She had her
eye on business.

'' No; he said he wanted to see me again as soon as his men
come with the wagons and some more samples."

" Invite him to take dinner with us to-morrow."

The next day Professor Alfred Wortman, the expert, was at
dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Galen Dalgal.

" You see," said Professor Wortman, " these are the richest
specimens of gold ore I have ever seen in the world. I have been
all over the world and visited every large gold camp on the globe.
It was in Australia two years ago that I heard about gold ores in
this section and that the people did not know how to mine for it
or extract it. These green gems are a new discovery. They will
sell for about twice or three times as much as the same size white
diamonds."

" Where do you find them ? " asked Dalgal.

" They are found in pockets," replied the professor, " in cavities
of rocks of different sizes, from that of your fist up to a bowlder
about double the size of a man's head. We dig in the ground and
when we find the rocks which bear the cavities we break the rocks
open with hammers, and on the inside at about the center find this
most precious and most beautiful of all gems. The gems vary in
size and brilliancy and consequently in value. I have found only
two that are deficient in brilliancy, and one of these is worth at
least one hundred dollars; yet it is a small stone. I have another
rrem that will fetch anywhere from two thousand to twenty-five
hundred dollars. I expect to find quantities of these gems deeper
in the ground, probably in the mountain, that will range in value
from one thousand to ten thousand dollars, and some even prob-
ably two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, maybe more. I tell
you about this confidentially and can prove the practicability of
the development of both, the richest gold mine in the world and
a gem mine richer and worth more than all the gold mines in

Extraordinary Discovery. 175

the United States, because I would like to know from you and
your good lady right here before I leave what arrangement you
will make with me to have them both worked at once and to the
fullest and speediest extent possible ? It will take big money for
the purchase of the machinery necessary besides knowing how to
use it properly."

'• We have not considered that question, Professor," said Mr.
Dalgal. " Tell us what you think about it."

" 1 will undertake to erect a plant necessary for the gold mining
and for crushing the rocks to secure the gems and pay all ex-
penses whatsoever for three-fourths of the output."

" Three-fourths ! " exclaimed Mr. Dalgal. " That leaves us
only one-fourth. Do you mean gross or net ? "

" O, well, make it gross," replied the Professor. ' I will pay all
expenses out of our share and all the taxes."

" I will think it over and see what we will do, Professor."

;' I must know at once. Because I shall leave here day after
to-morrow and go east, probably to New York direct, unless I
stop over in Philadelphia."

" I will let you know in the morning. Come to my office. By
that time your wagons will arrive." Mr. Dalgal was evidently be-
coming quite interested.

That night Mr. and Mrs. Dalgal discussed the matter and de-
cided that as they could not develop the property, did not even
know how, and as something was better than nothing, they would
accept the professor's proposal.

Next morning Mr. Dalgal began telling his wife what some
one had told him about the enormous wealth he had acquired
from the green diamond mines and how he had sold it for a
large fortune.

" Galen, my dear, you dreamed that last night," laughingly said
Mrs. Dalgal. ' No one but the Professor knows anything about
the matter. You dreamed it on account of what he told you yes-
terday at dinner."

" Let it go as a dream then. It's an extraordinarily good one,
if it will only come true, pan out, as we gold miners say."

The teams with the tools, samples, et cetera, arrived at Mr.
Dalgal 's residence before he had breakfast, but Professor Wort-
man did not come until some time afterward.

Mr. Dalgal and his wife examined the ores and the gems with
eager concern and great amazement. Their enthusiasm and de-

176 The Lady of New Orleans.

sire was so greatly aroused that they immediately agreed to the
Professor's proposal.

Repairing to the office of Mr. Dalgal a contract was drawn up
and signed as agreed, extending seven years in duration. Mr.
Dalgal's share was to be in the rough, but was to be " treated "
and put in " marketable shape " for a consideration slightly above
cost.

Professor Wortman started the wagons back to Alexander pro-
vided with provisions and money necessary to last until he re-
turned from New York. He then took the train bound for the
east, where he hoped to engage capital in the enterprise, purchase
machinery and make his fortune in short order.

Richest Mines in the World. 177

CHAPTER XXX.

RICHEST MINES IN THE WORLD.

" Hidden for all ages from all human sight,
At last by Hidden means brought forth to light,
And on the brow of Kings to shine art bidden
While thy discoverer is forever Hidden."

The above couplet was published in London under the heading-:

" On the New Gem Stone Hiddenite." By Rev. W. H. Rog-
ers, D. D., of London."

The new gem produced a sensation at once. The gem expert
scientists refused to concede that it was a distinct species or new
variety hitherto unknown until it was not only tested but abso-
lutely analyzed. But a European mineralogist of wide repute had
already pronounced it one of the most valuable precious stones
ever discovered. An American geologist, who had the naming,
called it " Hiddenite," a rather indefinite yet suggestive name, in
compliment to Professor Wm. Earl Hidden, an American geolo-
gist, but belonging to several English societies, who only a short
time before had preceded Professor Wortman in the discovery of
this brilliant, sparkling green gem, and at a place only a few
miles distant from where Wortman found it.

The stone is a green variety of spodumene and is found along
with emerald and aquamarine. It is the only gem variety and
occurs occasionally in the soil, but principally as lining cavities
in the gneissoid rocks. But in Alexander county, North Carolina,
is the only place in the world where the gem nas been found.

Professor Wortman did not make much progress in Philadel-
phia in securing customers with capital to take an interest in his
newly discovered gem. Therefore he did not tarry there long,
but proceeded to New York city.

In this world-renowned mart of money and enterprise, with its
myriad of ostentatious " promoters," who, seemingly, hear of a
man and all his enterprises and more about them than he himself
12

178 The Lady of New Orleans.

knows, many days or even months in advance of its being the talk
of the public, and where these aforesaid " promoters " seem to
have a " corner on the market " and are in communicado one with
another on every scheme and business enterprise from one end of
the world to the other, much less of every city, hamlet and crossing
of the roads in the United States, and by these and by various
other devices draw by a strange magnetism the financial vitals of
America, yea, of the world, Professor Alfred Wortman found but
few to listen to his recital of untold wealth in sight, to be had at
once, and none to embark with their capital in the enterprise. He
was discouraged. He had daily been the rounds from the foot of
Broadway to Canal street and on every cross street and parallel
street between for weeks without success.

They all admired his new kind of diamonds or gems and his
samples of gold ore, but they invariably seemed to have the idea
that he had his " pegs," as well as hopes, " set too high " to let
them in even '* on the ground floor." Thus, after being " hawked "
several weeks, failure stared the too sanguine Professor in the
face.

He was on the verge of giving uu the enterprise in hopeless
despair when he accidentally met " a gentleman from the South "
in the office of a broker up-stair - on Williams street. By the
merest accident they bowed and spoke to each other. No doubt
on account of the elevator man saying something to the other
about a Southern man -having been up that morning. The Pro-
fessor was thus emboldened to inquire of the other if he was from
the South.

1 Yes, I was born in the South, but I am now residing in-
France."

" I am not a Southern man, but I have been in the South a few
years," returned Professor Wortman. " I am just now from
North Carolina, where I found some of the richest gold and gem
property in the world. Having been all over the world and being
in the mineral ore and gem business, I know whereof I speak."

' What part of North Carolina? " asked the Frenchman.

" The western part," he replied. ' The property of which I
speak is near a little town called Hickory, a new town, just built
up since the railroad was built through there."

"You don't say? Hickory?" ejaculated the Frenchman. "I
have been there. I have had some pleasant associations connected
with that place."

Richest Mines in the World. 179

" Mav the Lord bless me ! How strangely men do come to-
gether," said the Professor. " Whom do you know in Hickory? "

" I did know nearly all the inhabitants there. I had what you
call a sweetheart there."

" What is her name? " asked the Professor.

" Helms, daughter of Judson Helms, the blind, sash and door
man."

" Indeed ! She married Colonel Dalgal, the eminent lawyer. I
am just now trying to make a deal for Colonel Dalgal in connec-
tion with the find I made on his lands." He then went on and
briefly related about the gold and the gems. Dalgal was then a
" colonel " to the Professor.

When they had waited a few moments after stepping out of the
elevator the gentleman from France was invited in the private of-
fice of the same party whom Professor Wortman desired to see.
They quickly exchanged cards, after the Professor had made an
appointment to see him that night at his hotel, the Brunswick, and
Mr. Alpha Millyard went inside.

Professor Wortman waited nearly an hour and at last was in-
formed by the clerk who attended to the cards that he must call
the next day at ten-forty. The Professor departed rather reluc-
tantly, yet with a ray of hope in an unexpected quarter.

Promptly at seven o'clock that night stately old Professor
Wortman sent his card to Mr. Alpha Millyard, of Paris, at the
Hotel Brunswick. The features of his mission were unfolded in
precise and elaborate language, such as demonstrated his knowl-
edge of what he was talking about. It was made so clear and
plain to Mr. Millyard, for he was our gentleman from New Or-
leans, that the man was honest and really had a good thing and
was offering a rare opportunity, that Mr. Millyard was soon
drawn into asking questions.

" How much money, Mr. Wortman, is required to carry your
enterprise through to a success ? "

" It can be done with a hundred thousand. If I can get that
much to be paid, twenty-five thousand down and twenty-five thou-
sand monthly for three months I can and will make it a success.
For this, as I said, I will make a contract and give an interest of
three-fourths of the net proceeds after paying the bonus of one-
fourth of the gross product to Colonel Dalgal, and without in-
cluding anything as salary for my services in managing the busi-
ness."

180 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Well, sir," said Millyard, " you must have faith in the busi-
ness. Come here in the morning at nine and I will see if I can
draw up the memorandum of a contract that will be acceptable to
both of us. I wish, however, that you distinctly and specifically
agree that my name shall not be divulged, especially to the great
dreamer, my old friend Galen Dalgal and his wife in connection
with the matter, because I am thinking of venturing in the enter-
prise partly on their account. I am here looking for investments
and this may be a chance for me. Dalgal's letter and your other
letters of commendation of you are quite sufficient for me. If it
is a success then it will be time enough for me, myself, to ac-
quaint Mr. Dalgal of my connection with the affair."

It may be noted that Prof. Wortman referred to Dalgal as
" colonel " and Millyard called him plain " mister." In some
parts of the United States it depends altogether which side and
how the bread is buttered whether one is a " colonel ': or a
" mister."

Prof. Wortman, the staid old fellow, showed he understood
what Millyard meant and that he would keep faith when he
agreed to the terms. He was about the happiest man in all New
York during the time he was awaiting the arrival of nine o'clock
next morning.

At the appointed time the two men met and went down-town
to the office of a lawyer, where the contract was drawn in due
and legal form and signed in duplicate. Meantime, however,
Prof. Wortman had conducted Millyard to a leading banker who
fully and freely vouched for the integrity and honesty of the Pro-
fessor.

Coming out of the bank they chanced to meet a professor of
Columbia college who, aside, informed Millyard that Professor
Wortman's reputation and ability as a mineralogist and geologist
was of the highest order.

When they repaired to Millyard's banker Millyard paid the
twenty-five thousand dollars down and arranged with his banker
for the monthly payments to Alfred Wortman upon the presenta-
tion of a certain specified showing or exhibit to the bank, which
included vouchers in receipt for the moneys expended.

Mr. Millyard had pressing business calling him to Boston,
whither he decided to immediately proceed. Professor Wortman
went in quest of the necessary machinery for his enterprise.

In the shortest time possible Professor Alfred Wortman,

Richest Mines in the World. 181

buoyed as he was by all the fructifying fruits of blessed Hope,
had a hum of industry in progress in Alexander that astonished
the natives.

He procured laborers, miners, carpenters and all sorts of work-
men needful and ere long had a high stockade fence enclosing
many acres in area, half a mile or more on both sides of a branch
and extending high up the sides of the mountains. This stock-
ade was for twofold purposes ; to prevent intrusion and maintain
privacy, and to protect the product of the mines from being pur-
loined, more particularly by employees. The loss of a nugget of
gold or a gem stone would be equivalent to the loss of its value in
money. Hence rigid rules were adopted and the most severe dis-
cipline maintained with regard to the workmen and the miners.

All the necessary houses for the men and buildings for the busi-
ness were erected on the inside of the stockade. Therefore the
public knew absolutely nothing for certain of what was trans-
piring therein.

1 82 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE DARK QUESTION OF AMERICA.

* Give me a cup of sac to make mine eyes look red,
For I must speak in passion."
The theme demands it.

The handsome loving couple, Alpha Millyard and Madame
Rittea de Ampbert Millyard, have not passed through their day.
Alpha Millyard has been depicted through a wilderness of trou-
ble, but his wonderful career admits of its further recording.

Mr. Mike Delarue secured the situation in a large wholesale
grocery house on Gravier street. He also received the check of
Miss de Ampbert for the sum of three thousand dollars.

" Bless those good people ! I do hope they will be happv alwavs
and that no trouble will ever disturb them. Th.y ^re 'so good
and noble they Si uld never experience one moment's unhappi-
ness."

Thus mused Mr. Delarue while returning from the post-office,
after he got the letter wi.a the check. He at once went to the
bank the check was drawn on, not Yilleguini's, and arranging for
an account there, deposited the check.

Miss Bertha Rosenstin was tried before the Recorder next
morning and fined, further sentence was suspended and she was
remanded to the close custody of her father. It was not long,
however, until Yilleguini established her in a finelv furnished
cottage down in French town.

It was about six months after the departure of Mr. and Mrs.
Millyard from Xew Orleans that Mr. Mike Delarue wrote Mr.
Millyard a letter imparting the information that he was married,
and to Miss Arrebelle Weightman ; also, that he had purchased a
half interest in the big wholesale grocerv house.

It was then that Alpha Millyard and his wife discussed the pro-
priety of deposing or superseding Mr. Villeguini as President

The Dark Question of America. 183

of the bank at the aoproaching annual election. His wife quickly
agreed with him when he proposed Mr. Delarue as Villeguini's
successor.

It was for this purpose that Mr. Millyard made the trip from
Paris to New Orleans, which he successfully accomplished, and
was in New York on his way back when he met Professor Wort-
man.

The negro question has been the chief theme, or subject of con-
tention between the peoples of the Northern and the Southern
se :tions of the United States ever since it was discovered that the
negro was a necessary and growing indigenous personality, or
qui si institution of the Southern part thereof, in estimating the
make-up of its best and most formidable adjuncts.

It was in the year 1792, that a ship arrived at the port of Sa-
vannah, Georgia, part of the cargo of which consisted of twenty-
six human beings, including male and female. They were
brought direct from Africa and were black. The captain, or sail-
ing master of the vessel, was a native of Massachusetts, his an-
cestor, he claimed, having been a Plymouth Rocker. These semi-
savage black people were illiterate, could not speak the English
language, had no language save a jargon of their own ; they were
ignorant of their destination or future destiny. They were landed
in a strange land among strange people, speaking a language
which they did not understand ; their customs and manners en-
tirely different.

Savannah at that time was one of the leading seaports of
America. There were men there from various sections of the
country anticipating the arrival of this cargo of human beings
whom they expected to purchase as had been the case before, and
making them their slaves.

These black people upon being landed were escorted to a ware-
house adjacent to the wharf and left there for inspection.

These plantation owners from all that territory now embraced
in the states of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala-
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana and parts of Texas and Virginia,
came to Savannah, or sent their agents, their overseers, to make
purchases of these people when they were put upon the auction
block for sale. It was then, and subsequently, a thriving busi-
ness for New England ship-owners and masters. As there were
no railroads or other means of transportation in those days ex-
cept by wagons, or horseback, it was a sure indication to the mas-

io4 The Lady of New Orleans.

ter of the vessel, or the consignee of the cargo of human beings,
that those persons in attendance were bona fide purchasers, with
the cash in hand. Therefore bidding for slaves was always spir-
ited. Because it was thus early in the historv of this country
being demonstrated, yea, even long before this time that these
black people were the kind of manual laborers adapted to, and
suited for, all requirements in that whole section of country. Nor
was this human industry confined to Savannah and other South-
ern seaports. Northern seaports even were at times places of
landing for these human cargoes.

On this occasion the bidding for the negroes just arrived from
Africa was very spirited. Among the number of negroes was
one old man who had been given the name of Moses as a substi-
tute for Massa or Masa. He, unlike some of the others, had
brought his entire immediate family ; consisting of an aged wife,
two well-formed, buxom daughters and a son. Moses was said
to be the seventh son of a seventh son, and descended in full line
from a ruler or king in the domain from whence he came. Moses
was a very aged man. It was claimed that he had talked with his
grandfather and that his grandfather had talked with his grand-
father. And thus there was a period of nearly five hundred years
of history stored in the memory of old man Moses, acquired orally
through his ancestors.

The primeval history of the world, it is claimed, commenced
in Africa contemporaneous with, if not anterior to, that of Asia.
Some say there were Kings in Africa before there were Kings
in Asia.

We come now to deal with the African, Moses and his family.
Moses and his wife, Pola, were purchased by a gentleman from
that part of Georgia now known as Oglethorpe county. His
eldest daughter, Lida, a magnificent young woman, if black,
stately in appearance, was purchased by a planter from the Prov-
ince, now the state of Louisiana. The other daughter, Nina, was
taken to North Carolina, and the son, Bah Ahben, was bid off
and carried away by a bridge-builder in Georgia. The wife of
Moses made it known through an- old darkey, some' time from
Africa, who happened to be present to inquire about the old coun-
try and the people there, that she wished her daughters and her
son to go with her and their father. But it was to no avail. Each
purchaser stuck to his bargain. Thus the family of negroes were
separated incontinently. They all wended their ways from Sa-

The Dark Question of America. 185

vannah to their new and unknown homes and the new modes of
life in a new world, in a frame of mind that can only be con-
jectured.

The transmigration of souls to Paradise, the separation of
parents, brothers and sisters, their relatives and friends, who are
consigned to everlasting perdition, or different realms in future
life, cannot be conceived of as more of an admixture and separa-
tion of people than was this growing custom of separating the
negroes. They could never see each other again in probably a
decade, if ever. It is now deemed wonderful how they aban-
doned themselves to the situation. The owners and their young
masters and mistresses were their lords and princesses. On
many and many a plantation they lived in royal splendor. But
in some instances this, of course, was not the case.

It so happened that the son, Bah Ahben, was fortunate in being
taken by a bridge-builder. He had worked some at building
causeways and the like in far-off Africa. He was put to work at
building bridges, a branch of internal industry which was then
very flourishing. The war of the Revolution had ceased. Amer-
ica had gained her Independence and the new Nation, the United
States, which had been formed was in successful operation. The
people had retired to their farms and plantations and engaged in
agriculture and the building of homes and the waylaying of the
immense forests which lay outstretched before them on every
hand.

It may here be stated that the period then was one of the most
extraordinary industrial epochs in the history of the world. The
new Nation, the new government and the new system of govern-
ment ; a virgin field for human action, with a race of people equal
to the emergency, being launched at one fell swoop into the con-
glomerate of National controllers of the tastes and purposes of
the peoples by a people in pursuit of freedom, peace and happi-
ness in the new world, is now, if it was not then, regarded by all
other civilized mankind, and by us, as one of the most remark-
able incidents in all the history of all the world. In the good
common road from the Mongolian and Malay through the He-
brew and all Asiatic races of peoples to the Gaul, Teuton and
Anglo-Saxon, there must- ever remain a pread judged theme for
contemporaneous discussion as well as much explanation.

In America there is none. No explanation is necessary or re-
quired. The people know where they begin, they know where

1 86 The Lady of New Orleans.

they come from and that they are on a plane with any man any-
where. There is one unction for sure ; no vandal, invading, bar-
barous hordes assimilates their blood, whatever else may have
been accomplished by peaceable immigration.

The nomadic Hebrew, without a home or nationality wander-
ing throughout the world, condemned by his God, forms no
greater parallel in the history of peoples than does this same
negro race inhabiting the South. They are the most subdued
and the most denounced race of people on the face of the earth ;
and are exciting and inciting more national acrimony, turmoil,
trouble and animosity, among statesmen as well as the common
politicians, than all other questions combined. In fact, as before
said, the negro question is the chief difference of opinion dividing
the people of the two sections, the North and the South of the
United States.

Bridge 'and causeway building in the South during the period
immediately subsequent to the Revolution was a very profitable
industry. Bah Ahben proved an adept in the business. He was
soon made overseer of a gang of men by his master and was
sent about the country with written permission, a requisite, to
make contracts, and superintend the work. He proved so suc-
cessful that his owner voluntarily gave him a percentage of the
profits in order to stimulate him in making advantageous con-
tracts and doing his work well and rapidly. Bah Ahben was still
so successful that he was not long in acquiring sufficient money
to purchase his father's freedom, and then his mother's. Later
he bought his own freedom. Then he took his father and mother
and moved to the Teche in Louisiana near his elder sister ; where
he still pursued his avocation and still prospered. His younger
sister had become so much attached to her new home in North
Carolina and to her young mistress that she refused to leave.
Bah Ahben soon secured the freedom of Lida ; but sh'e also de-
clined to leave her home. She was actuated by a different mo-
tive and cause.

Her young master had become so dc facto as well as de jure.
She was the mother of a handsome mulatto daughter, who was
born, free, soon after her freedom had been bought.

Later on this daughter also became the mother of a daughter,
who was nearly white. This girl grew to be a beautiful and
handsome woman, and became decidedly cultured, because she
was trained in the households of her grandmother's former mas-

The Dark Question of America. 187

ters along with their daughters. In turn she became the mother
of a remarkably beautiful daughter, who showed no trace of
negro either in feature or color.

This child grew to be a very beautiful and exceedingly lovely
girl. She was sent to the public school in New Orleans and was
finally sent to school in Paris.

While returning to New Orleans, after receiving a thorough
education in Paris, she became acquainted with a French gentle-
man on board the steamship who proved to be one of the largest
of the owners thereof. The steamer was one of several other
steamships of the same line plying between New Orleans and
Havre. The French gentleman paid her every and very marked
attention.

Afterward, a year or a little more, he bought a large sugar plan-
tation, a vast estate, on the Laforouche, for which he paid a large
sum of money and established her on it as mistress of the prem-
ises.

1 88 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XXXII.

MYSTERY OF MAROUAND.

About three and a half years after Alpha Millyard and his
bride left New Orleans we find them residing in an elegant man-
sion in the midst of the gayest and most fashionable part of the
giddy and great city of New York, and entertaining lavishly.
Their functions were the most notable of the season. There
seemed no end of their extensive and expensive enterta.inmen.ts-.
It was quite a distinguished honor to be invited and the proper
thing to attend them.

There had been born to Mr. and Mrs. Millyard while in Paris
a beautiful girl and a handsome boy, Mittie and De Ampbert.
They were bright, intelligent and lovely children. Mittie w'as
possessed of very fair skin, but was a brunette; her eyes were
dark brown. De Ampbert was inclined to be light-haired with
bright, shining, cerulean blue eyes. The Millyards were still like
young lovers ; their friends and acquaintances in New York re-
marked much about how devoted they were to each other.

Mrs. Millyard without objecting, objected to Mr. Millyard
engaging in any kind of active business, only to look for safe
investments for their surplus income. But of course Mr. Mill-
yard, being now very high up in the world must needs be a mem-
ber of some of the best of clubs. But he was " at home " most
of the time. One day Mrs. Millyard, ever as gently as formerly
remarked :

" Darling, do you not prefer to reside in New Orleans in pref-
erence to New York ? The weather is so cold and variable here.
In New Orleans it is so much better climate in which to bring up
our little baby children. Besides, the environment there is so
much more congenial to me."

" Yes, my dear wine ; I would much prefer New Orleans, es-
pecially on" account of you and the children, only I have such
horrible memories of my sad experience there. I would like very

Mystery of Marquand. 189

much to know if that abomination, Bertha, has left there, or what
has become of her. I believe I will write Mike Delarue and as-
certain. If she is not there to shoot you, as she tried to do the
day we were married, I would gladly return there and reside the
remainder of our lives. I regard New Orleans as the finest and
most cosmopolitan city in the world, and you know I have been
to nearly all of them. New York is not suited to me, or, rather,
I to it. We have drifted into the most extravagant fashionable
set in New York ; they look for us to give a function, as they call
it, every fortnight or two. It is a perfect bore to me. I think
we had better discontinue them after this next one."

" That is my idea also, Alpha de'ar," she replied. " I care
nothing for society, only your society."

" And I yours," he returned. " I go to one of the clubs and
soon get weary and bored. I have to come right back to you to
get cheered from lethargy."

' That is very sweet and lovely. I am glad you do."

" Well, we will break off from functions after this one next
week. We can do so by making a visit to New Orleans the re-
mainder of the winter and for Mardi Gras, if we do not move
there. We can so inform our guests and that will he sufficient

excuse."

" Tradition, the mother of History, teaches me that I am the
descendant of a king, also that my ancestors were a very long-
lived race of people on the dark continent. That my great great-
grandfather, who was kidnapped and brought to this country, was
over one hundred years of age when he died, which was some
seventy-five or eighty years ago. His grandfather was over one
hundred years old when he died in Africa. And his grandfather
was near one hundred and twenty years of age when he died ;
that he was a king and had a vast country over which he ruled. It
is also a part of our family tradition that nine of my male line
progenitors in consecutive order carried their history back to 3
great event in our country, the facts about which, as I know them,
I shall be glad to tell you some' time. They are pronounced ex-
tremely interesting. Although I am a negro and was a slave, I
was educated and speak French."

" Your remarks are interesting. I may be free to say, you are
what may be termed more than the average colored man in point
of intelligence. That is why I have made it a point to have you

190 The Lady of New Orleans.

wait upon me more than I otherwise would. When we have the
opportunity I shall be pleased to have you tell me more about
yourself and your family history. At present, when you get me
a poussc cafe I must go up-town."

These speakers were Mr. Alpha Millyard and J. Robert Dick-
son, commonly called " Bob," who was one of the servants of
the club.

;' I say, Mr. Le Roy, that is an awfully interesting fellow, that
colored boy Bob. He has a history. He was telling me a bit of
it a while ago. He uses much better language than any of these
other colored men. He confidentially intimated that there is a
dark mystery surrounding him or some one of his family, which,
were all the facts known, would produce a profound sensation in
society. I wish now I had questioned him concerning it. But he
soon got off the track on to something about his ancestors."

Mr. Alpha Millyard was addressing Mr. Gerald Con Le Roy.
They were walking toward the door to leave the club. They had,
separately, been partaking of lunch and wine. Mr. Le Roy re-
plied :

" I have thought on several occasions there was in him, or of
him, something more than the ordinary, and have, therefore, ob-
served him more closely than I have any of the other servants.
I have reflected that this is probably because he is so very bright
in color, so striking in appearance and speaks, as you say, with
such fluency and precision in language as compared with other
colored men, or negroes, as they are more correctly designated."

Mr. Le Roy was a gentleman in New York who was possessed
of a large income and lived in mose elegant leisure. His time
being devoted to clubs, receptions and society in general.

" By the way," said Millyard, " I believe I will ask Bob if he
can assist at our function next Thursday night. He will materially
augment the personnel of our servants."

" Capital idea. You could not have made a better suggestion,"
said Mr. Gerald Con Le Roy.

As these two gentlemen were nearing the door Bob accosted
Mr. Millyard and, asking to speak with him privately a moment,
said :

" I trust, Mr. Millyard, you will do me the kindness not to
mention anything of which I have spoken to you. Not, however,
that I have the right to ask your confidence, but because I should
not have been so bold as to intrude any of my personal matters

Mystery of Marquand. 191

on so noble a gentleman, me a servant, when it was of no con-
cern to you. And, in reality, I apologize for my impudent au-
dacity."

" That is all right, Bob," replied Millyard. " You will under-
stand that it is I who am to blame, if either of us are, because I
was an attentive listener to your wonderful personal history. You
may be a prince of a realm in Africa. I shall be glad to have you
tell me more of yourself at some future time. Meantime, there
is to be a reception and banquet at the residence of Madame Mill-
yard next Thursday evening, and, without having consulted her
or our steward upon the subject, I take the liberty of asking if we
can have your services on that occasion ? "

" I shall be highly honored to have the pleasure," said Bob,
" provided I can secure leave of absence from the club."

" I will make that all right," suggested Millyard. " You may
consider yourself engaged and be at my residence next Thursday
evening and report to the steward."

The two gentlemen departed from the club ; Bob returned to his
duties. He was called by a gentleman seated at one of the tables.

" Can you tell me," he asked, " the name of the gentleman with
the curled mustache and imperial? The one with the light over-
coat on his arm ? "

" Yes, sir," replied Bob. " That is Mr. Alpha Millyard. He
is a member here and resides up-town."

'What is his business?" he asked, stroking his big mustache
and eying Bob sideways.

" I think, sir, he has no particular business," Bob replied cau-
tiously. ' He is a wealthy gentleman who lives upon his income
and, like many other New York gentlemen, he is taking life
easy."

How long has he been here ? '

' That I could not tell you, sir. He seems to be one of the most
popular gentlemen who attends the club."

" I am almost sure I met him in Paris about three years ago,"
said the stranger. " It was under most extraordinary circum-
stances. I think his name is Marquand."

' Marquand ? " repeated Bob, in astonishment, showing consid-
erable agitation.

" You are surprised. Do you know anything of Marquand? "
calmly spoke the gentleman.

" I have heard of him, sir," Bob replied, fumbling with the.
tableware and napkins, pretending to be busy.

192 The Lady of New Orleans.

" What have you heard of him ? "

" If, sir, you will excuse me, I had rather not answer."

" You do know something of him, though ? What is your
name ? "

" Dickson, sir ; J. Robert Dickson."

" Where did you come from, where were vou raised? "

" Partly in Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia."

" Where in Louisiana ? "

" Up in Laforouche."

" Are you old man Dick Boufillet's son, bv his housekeeper ?
The one they called Dick's son because his father was nicknamed
Dick?"

" Yes, sir. But you have the advantage of me. May I ask
you to please tell me your name ? "

" Do you remember Hatch ? — Colonel Hatch ? "

" O, sir! Do not tell me that you are Colonel Frank Hatch? "

" Yes, but I do. Now I want you to tell me what you know
about Marquand. He is the Frenchman who plotted a swindle
by which I was robbed of nearly two hundred thousand francs,
and this man. looks exactly like him."

" I am sure, sir," replied Bob, " this gentleman you refer to is
not that man Marquand. Because Monsieur Marquand is still in
Paris and will not venture to come to the United States. This
gentleman, Mr. Millyard, is not a Frenchman. He is an Ameri-
can, from the South somewhere."

" He looks like a Frenchman and speaks like one."

" O, that may be," said Bob, shrugging his shoulders. " He
has beer* residing in Paris, I think."

" Then you know of a mystery about Marquand ? "

" Yes, sir," said Bob, agitatedly.

" Were you in Paris ? "

" No, sir."

" When Marquand married "

" You will have to excuse me, sir," said Bob abruptly, " the
head waiter is calling me."

Colonel Hatch sat for a while after eating his lunch, seemingly
absorbed in intense thought. Presently he muttered :

" If I could just get that nigger to tell me what he knows I
believe I could solve the whole mystery. I will try and make hin
tell me."

Awful Revelation. 193

CHAPTER XXXIII.

AWFUL REVELATION.

New York City in its grandeur and sublimity of magnificent
proportions was at this time one vast scene of beauty in all that
makes up a grand metropolis of a grand, unequaled Nation. The
balmy air of nearly two weeks ot uninterrupted sunshine in the
month of January had animated all nature. Every nerve and
fiber were tensioned to the utmost. The ever present sparrow
abounded in gleeful joy. The people moved with all the degrees
of motion. The policemen promenaded more alertly. The shops
were crowded. The cafes were full and were filling the people
while the people still filled them. The newsboys' yell was inces-
sant. The evening shades were gathering fast and the gas lamps
brightened up everywhere. Activities had increased in the gay
world of fashion to such extent that only those, apparently, who
were having functions of their own remained at home in the
evenings. Spacious opera-houses, theaters and halls were
crowded with cheerful, happy people seeking recreation and
amusement during the first warm spell after a hitherto bitter cold
winter.

It was thus amid such scenes in life that on Thursday evening
the much-talked-of grand function of the Millyards had come to
pass. Overjoyed beauty shone resplendent. The loveliest women
of New York city and many from surrounding cities and some
from Europe were gracing the occasion. The whole mansion was
turned into one grand salon, as it were. Madame Millyard was
in glorious ecstasy making her guests happy. Lovely compli-
ments showered upon her thick and fast.

Alpha Millyard was the happiest man in America He made
himself delightfully entertaining.

When the guests were admitted to the dining-hall they beheld
one of the most gorgeous decorations of the season. Flowers and
13

194 The Lady of New Orleans.

evergreens, representatives from all over the world and of every
season, were in profusion. The music was the sweetest that the
best bands in New York could make. All nature was personified
in one grand realistic Eden of bliss and glory. Such as can be
conceived only with less vividness or pictured with pen less graphi-
cally than in the actuality.

The higher ideal, that more elevated walk and disposition of
man ; that more sublime degree of human attainment, that pleasur-
able exultation of soulful enjoyment, that mind and nerve thrilling
pleasurable sensation which makes this life sweet to others as well
as to oneself, is an ennobling of the soul so that it leads on to the
link that connects Man and his mother to the One in whose image
they were created. Those who do not revel in the conventionalities
of etiquette, of which there is no better anglicized word, and func-
tions, which is not so good, cannot be considered as consorting
with this blissful class of men and women. It is the self-pre-
servative law the abiding of which entitles Man to fulfil his mis-
sion in the image of his Maker.

Reverting to the mulatto negro, Bob, in the club: Next day
Mr. Millyard secured his leave of absence for Thursday evening,
and Bob again promised to be present.

" By the way, Bob," said Millyard, " who was that gentleman
with the large mustache and long whiskers who sat at the farthest
table obliquely across from Mr. Con Le Roy and myself yesterday
afternoon with whom you spoke as we were leaving? "

This was evidently a surprising question to Bob ; he showed it.
Hesitating, however, for only a moment or two. Bob replied :

" I think, sir, he is a gentleman from the South somewhere. He
was only introduced into the club."

" Did you learn his name? "

" I think, sir, he said his name was Hatch, or something like
that."

"Hatch, Hatch? What Hatch?"

" Captain or General, or some military title. He was here only
a short time. I think he left town last night."

' What an odd-looking man he was. He would attract the
attention of any one, especially here." Millyard's curiosity was a
contrast to his wont.

' These Southerners are all that way," said Bob. " They seem
to want to appear odd. They are a very queer people. I was
reared among them and I know all about them."

Awful Revelation. 195

" I dare say," retorted Millyard. " I am also ever interested
by those enthusiastically chivalrous and patriotic people of the
South. Though I am of the South myself. Therefore I can
speak of them plainly. They are like princes and they are Shy-
locks. They loan freely like a beggar and collect like a national
bank. They are kings and they are serfs. They fill the empire
with their infection wherever they visit. The Madame is also a
Southerner. I should think you would have remained in the
South ? "

" I would, sir, only I came North in search of a niece ; my funds
having become exhausted I had to settle down to business."

" Did you ever find your niece ? "

" No, sir ; I suppose she i: still in France. We heard she had
come to New York, but I cannot find her."

" A strange fancy has attracted me towards you," said Mill-
yard. " In fact I may say, while I do not wish to take you away
from the club, I am inclineu to think you would suit me for a
valet."

" Ah, indeed ! That would give me pleasure. I hope you can
see your way clear to make the proposal."

" I will see about it," said Millyard, as he arose from the table,
then departed.

Bob had made a reputation as a servant and waiter by his suav-
ity of manner and elegance of speech. He was deferential and re-
spectful.

The chatter of speech at the Millyard banquet was drowned
by itself within the limits of a narrow circle. Bob, in faultless at-
tire, was conspicuous at every important and opportune moment.
Wit and humor, repartee and surrejoinder, with merry laughter
interlarded, reigned supreme.

It was toward the close of the feast when Bob passed down the
hall to the end of a table where sat Madame Millyard.

Bob suddenly stood still and, gazing at the Madame a moment,
exclaimed : " Rittea, my niece ! "

His waiter, with whatever was on it, fell splashing on the floor,
while he stood transfixed as a statue.

Only those persons sitting near at hand heard the words Bob
had uttered. But the words he spoke were passed along the
lines.

There was only a slight commotion among the servants. Two
of them carried out a " waiter who had fainted."

196 The Lady of New Orleans.

One of the leading ladies of society, who was seated near Mrs.
Millyard, abruptly arose, saying aloud in angry tones :

" She a negress ? I will remain here no longer. I, for one,
will take my departure." So saying, she proceeded to take her
departure.

Other guests did likewise. The frivolous revelers followed
pair by pair, singly and in squads. Finally the banquet-hall was
deserted. When the last person, a sympathetic lady, who lingered
in sadness, had disappeared through the front door Mrs. Millyard
fainted and fell hard, but upon a soft-carpeted floor. Mr. Mill-
yard rushed to her rescue. The faithful maid, Sarah, yelled for
the steward, the old reliable, stiff-backed Frenchman. He and all
the regular family servants came rushing to the scene. Mr. Mill-
yard gathered his wife in his arms and, aided by Louis and Sarah,
placed her on a divan in the drawing-room. Mr. Millvard asked
Sarah to get the camphor and o-dered the steward to run for the
nearest doctor, quick.

Meantime Louis had delivered Bob to a policeman, who carried
him to a police station.

" O, goodness! Rittea, Sweetie, please speak to me," sooth-
ingly said Millyard, leaning over and softly wiping her face.
" What is the matter ? I heard what those people said about you,
my darling, and what they said that waiter said. But, Sweetie,
I have heard that story before. Bertha taunted me with it before
we were married. I paid no attention to it then; she was jealous.
This man may confirm it, yet I shall still give it no heed. I am
your husband forever." He was so distressed he did not observe
that she was oblivious to what he was saying.

Camphor was quickly administered, also other restoratives. Be-
fore the physician arrived Madame Millyard had revived. Find-
ing her husband holding her head in his arms on his lap she said :

" Darling husband, are von mortified with me? "

" My darling Sweetie, for what? I told you just now I have
heard of something like this before — from that Bertha. But I did
not believe it, for I knew Bertha was jealous. Even if it is true it
shall not change my love and devotion for you. We have now our
two bright little children to care for and not for what other people
say or do."

" Yes, dear, but it casts us out of society in Xew York and ruins
the future prospects of our children."

Kissing her several times and raising her to a sitting posture
partially, Mr. Millyard said :

Awful Revelation. 107

" As for society, I care nothing. But I do care, darling, for our
sweet girl, Mittie, and our son, De Ampbert. We must now look
to them as well as to ourselves. I love you just as sweetly and
devotedly as I ever did, if not more so. You are not friendless
nor loveless."

" Ah, to hear you say that is so sweet. But, my dear husband,
how can you forgive me for not telling: you? I am not that man's
niece. But, Alpha, dear, he is in reality a blood relation. It is on
my poor mother's side. My mother has not shown herself outside
of my house since I returned from school in Paris, where she was
educated before me. You did not see my mother. I did not wish
you to see her. Because I was afraid if you did you would cease
to love me. She is as white as anv white person and is better edu-
cated, more polished and refined than ninety one-hundredths of the
people. I did not see, with my education and my wealth, which
my father gave me for the purpose of protecting me in the world
and in society, why I should not marry to my liking, a man of my
choice, a man whom I loved and who would love me. It was
love, pure love for myself that I wanted. But the man I loved was
the man I wanted to love me. That man was you. I have not in-
truded myself upon societv. Societv has intruded itself upon me.
Why ? Because you and I have been liberal, yea, even lavish with
society as well as in charity. God knows I have intended no
wrong. In my ,/ork of charity I was at the Charity ball at the
Odd-Fellows' Hall. I saw you. From that moment I longed for
you, I loved you. And when the opportunity divinely presented
itself I determined to befriend you, as I already knew that you
were innocent of the vile charges against you, hoping thereby to
win your sweet love in return for mine. Can you forgive me, and
condone my error and — love me ? "

" Forgive and condone ? " gently but rapturously spoke Mill-
yard. " There is none necessary, Sweetie. There is nothing you
have done to forgive and nothing, not a thing, to condone. As for
love, I do not comprehend how I can love you any more than I do.
I am just absolutely yours so much already that I am not any of
my own. You are the dearest, sweetest woman on earth. Con-
template those people who were here to-night; the elite. ladies and
gentlemen of New York, the most fashionable of the world, each
one separately and collectively, paving you unreserved homage and
showering compliments that would have turned the head of a
Queen Elizabeth. But you were just the same. I know you, as

198 The Lady of New Orleans.

you said of me, and I love you, Sweetie. I live for you and none
beside, save the children."

" I am so happy, yet so mortified," she said, sweetly, but with a
gentle sigh.

" Repeat that first part, Sweetie. And tell me you will not
mood over this episode; won't you, please? "

" I am happy, dear ; you talk so sweetly. I will not mood over
it if you will not think of it."

" I have no need to think of it any more than heretofore. My
mind is more concerned in you."

" I am glad we informed those people that this would be our
last function and that we expect to leave here soon."

" Yes, that was fortunate," responded Millyard. " By the way,
I received a letter from Mr. Delarue this afternoon which I have
not read."

" Can you read it to me? "

He read, part of which was as follows :

" My dear Mr. Millyard: — I have not had time to write you
recently. I received yours two or three days ago. Glad to hear you
and yours are so well. You ask about Bertha ; her bodv was found
in Lake Pontchartrain the other day near where we saw Sam
Wax. bathing. It is supposed she drowned herself. A young
man was in bathing with her, but he did not see her drown, it
seems. Villeguini also figures in the case. But, as you know, they
will not catch up with him. I now own all of this wholesale gro-
cery store, also the home where I live on Camp street, and have the
prettiest little girl in New Orleans. Come home. You have pro-
tracted your honeymoon long enough. I never took a week and
did not get so far away as Beloxi City, etc.

" Yours sincerely,

" Mike Delarue."

" Well, Bertha is out of the way of harming either you or me,"
remarked Millyard when he finished reading the letter.

" We will close house here and go to New Orleans immediately,
will we not, dear Alpha ? "

" Yes, dear ; as soon as we can get ready."

" What became of that dreadful man who has ruthlessly blighted
our lives in New York? " asked Mrs. Millyard.

" Louis had him sent to the station-house. But if he is really

Awful Revelation. 199

related to you I shall go in the morning and have him released.
If you consent, I will bring him here and make him my valet."

" I prefer not to see him again," she said. " He was so impru-
dent. Besides, let him go to his real niece in Paris. She is there.
She is the Madame Marquand who created the sensation at one
of our salons. She is a cousin of mine, but I did not think it worth
while to mention it then and only do so now incidentally."

" She is one of the leaders in Parisian society," suggested Mr.
Millyard.

" Of course. That is why I did not mention to you our rela-
tionship. I did not wish that you or I should be subservient to
any one, or they to us. Particularly on account of relationship to
me."

4 You are a thoroughbred, my Sweetie. Do you love me ? "

" I adore you ; just worship you ! "

:' It is mutual, my love. I think it would be better to have that
fellow released to-night and not have a trial about the matter in
court. That would cause the whole affair to be made public
through the newspapers."

' You are quite thoughtful. That is the best course to pursue."

Mr. Millyard immediately wrote a note to the police official
requesting the release of J. Robert Dickson, on the ground that his
arrest was a mistake and that he had no charge to prefer against
him, and sent the note by Louis, who ordered the arrest.

One can look back and see why Mrs. Millyard had been so
anxious that Mr. Millyard should not meet Bertha Rosenstin, or
if he did that he pay no attention to what she said. She knew that
Bertha, having heard of her contemplated marriage with Mr.
Millyard, would cast a slur upon her birth and blood. When
Millyard had not shown that she did Miss de Ampbert was happy.

A few days afterward Alpha Millyard and Madame Rittea de
Ampbert Millyard, " the lady of New Orleans," caused such of
their household effects as they desired in New Orleans to be
shipped by steamer, the chef and servants accompanying them.
Louis, the steward, and Sarah, the maid, remained to accompany
Mr. and Mrs. Millyard and the children over the country by
railroad.

Their house in New York city was leased for a term of years
to a down-town banker and broker.

Before leaving New York, Millyard wrote Delarue a letter giv-
ing information of their return to New Orleans, as he requested,
after a contemplated stop-over in North Carolina.

200 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

DOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA.

Mr. Millyard had explained to his wife that he was receiving
such encouraging reports from the investment he made in North
Carolina when he was over from France that he thought it advis-
able to stop over, as they would pass within about sixty miles of
the works on their way to New Orleans.

Accordingly we find them at Hickory where Mr. Galen Dalgal
and his charming wife, the erstwhile fiancee of Mr. Millyard,
were doing the honors of the occasion in delightful style. Mr.
Millyard before leaving New York had telegraphed Mr. Dalgal
of his coming.

" Mr. Dalgal, my dreamomaniacal friend, is not there a mine
or mines out here somewhere in which you are interested ? Or is
it one of my dreams, instead of yours? " inquired Mr. Millyard.

" Call it dreaming," replied Dalgal, " but let me tell you.
Alpha, my dreamomaniacal faculties have led me into some very
pleasing ventures and profitable business matters."

The two men were seated on the front veranda of Mr. Dalgal's
substantial residence during the first afternoon after the arrival
of the Millyards, while the children with their attendants were
playing on the front lawn in the oak grove. At this time Mr.
Dalgal was the father of a boy nearly three years old and a little
baby girl. Although it was January the air was unusually balmy
and delightfully pleasant, even more than it had been during the
two weeks in New York city.

" Ah, indeed ! Give me an account of them," replied Millyard.

" In the first place it seems that I dreamed of making my en-
gagement with my wife, for she still declares that we had no such
conversation as I alleged when we agreed to marry." Mr. Dalgal
interspersed chewing tobacco, sometimes vigorously, with his re-
marks. " And in the next place, probably more properly in the
first place, I had dreamed of making a trade with Judge Selia for

Down in North Carolina. 201

a tract of land over in Alexander county, and when I talked to
him about it the next day we actually agreed to trade, provided I
would also marry my wife; that was part of the bargain." He
chuckled into a guffaw. " Then I dreamed that there was gold
and other rich minerals in the land. A short while afterward a
gold miner expert and mineralogist came along and got my per-
mission to investigate and test the land for minerals. He found
gold in abundance and a green gem in great quantities. The gem
sparkles brilliantly like a diamond. It is, in fact, a pure green
diamond. They are more valuable and sell for twice or three
times as much as white diamonds."

Air. Millyard listened attentively to the fascinating recital of
Mr. Dalgal concerning the discovery and development of the won-
derful wealth which was concealed in the bosom, as it were, of this
tract of land about which he had dreamed the dream of a dreamer.
Millyard asked :

" What will you take for the land and your interest in the busi-
ness, Galen ? "

" I never thought about it, but I could not think of selling for
less than two hundred thousand spot cash. You see, I have a con-
tract with the company through old Professor Alfred Wortman,
who found it, whereby I receive a percentage of one-fourth the
gross output, and he and his company pay all expenses whatso-
ever as well as furnish the machinery. They made me treasurer,
hence I know what they are doing. The business is being con-
ducted so quietly, without any ostentation or show of any kind,
that no one outside of Professor Wortman and myself know the
extent of our business. He is exceedingly careful about keeping
the affair secret."

" How long does the contract run, Galen ? " inquired Millyard.
If he knew he had forgotten.

" Seven years," replied Dalgal. " It has over four years morer
to run."

" You mean then, you would take two hundred thousand dol-
lars spot cash for a title deed to the land and your interest in the
contract? "

" Yes, I will do that," slowly drawled Dalgal. " But I am not
hankering for any one to come along and take me up. It may look
to outsiders as being visionary and exorbitant, but I am easy. My
share out of it will be very much more than that, if it pans out
like it has been, long before the contract expires."

202 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Well, Galen, I wish to say to you before we talk any further
about my buying your interest or my looking at the property, that
I have come by here on my way from New York to New Orleans
just to see you and your wife and to examine this wonderful mine.
Your man, Professor Wortman, accidentally met me in New York
as I was returning to Paris from New Orleans and I learned the
particulars about it from him. He called to see me at my hotel in
New York and showed me samples and your letter. He told me
all about your owning the land, swapping a circus horse and a
worn-out buggy for it. I agreed to and did furnish him one hun-
dred thousand dollars to develop your mines. I did it on your ac-
count and because of your marrying my old sweetheart."

"Great goodness! Ain't that strange?" ejaculated Dalgal.
" Well, well ! Who would have thought it ? Lem-mesee? It oc-
curs to me now that I did dream, or some one told me, an old
friend had or would furnish me the money." He said this
thoughtfully.

" I enjoined the Professor that he should not let you know that
I had furnished you the money."

" Well, he has not. I did not know a word of it until you told
me this very minute. This is astonishing. I must tell Lucilla."
So saying, Dalgal excused himself to Millyard and, rushing in the
house, informed his wife. As he entered the door on returning
to the porch, Millyard said :

" I telegraphed Professor Wortman that I would arrive here
to-day."

" Yes, he sent me word that he would be in town this afternoon
with the wagons and also with the two ambulances, which we use
instead of carriages, as he expected company to go out to the
works. I judge by that, that he had received your telegram."

" No doubt," said Millyard. " I sent it from New York day
before yesterday at the same time I telegraphed you." Dalgal
handed some samples of the ore and gems to Millyard, who con-
tinued : " If this property meets my expectations, Galen, I shall
accept your proposal and give you two hundred thousand dol-
lars for your indefeasible deed in fee simple to the land and your
interest in the contract with Wortman and his company. Has he
any other one in the company except you and myself ? "

" I have never known who he has in the company with him," re-
plied Dalgal. " Ha got the money from some source and said to
me that it was a confidential and private matter. It was not ma-

Down in North Carolina. 203

terial to me. I never dreamed that it was you, or that you would
have sufficient interest in me to invest so large a sum of money on
my account."

'" Well, you see, Galen," said Millyard, smiling, " the truth
about the matter is your dreaming failed you there ; it was not so
much on your account entirely. Of course I did not invest so
large a sum without some surety of adequate, if not superior, re-
turns. It has met my expectations, and, as I say, if the property
shows up any further tangibility in proportion I will venture
double that amount in it. You hinted that it might run out ; are
there any indications to that effect? "

" I know of none particularly. But you know how all these
mining affairs are? There is sure to be an end of it somewhere."

" But, probably like gold mines and also diamond mines, as I
understand, they may be worked over the second time even more
profitably than the first time, especially with new methods and
improved machinery," suggested Millyard.

" That is just exactly what I have thought," retorted Dalgal.
" And somebody told me, or I dreamed, that a tract of land adjoin-
ing this one to the southwest and of the same geological forma-
tion has these gems and gold in it and can be purchased for a com-
paratively small sum. If you buy my interest you should buy
that land also. By the time you work out this tract or when the
contract expires you will want this additional tract to work on.
I would be glad if you will buy me out. Because that will be as
much money as I will want. If you make millions out of it, as
Professor Wortmart seems to think and strongly claims can be
done, I shall not be sorry, but will be glad."

" All right, Galen ; I am glad to hear you talk that way. All of
us must go there to-morrow, your wife and my wife and all the
children. Then when I see the property I will tell you whether I
will buy. Is there accommodation for all of us? "

' Yes, plenty," drawled Dalgal, assuringly. " The Professor
has built a log castle, as he calls it, as spacious as a city hotel, and
has furnished it sumptuously. You know, I think, he had it built
two years ago, looking forward to this visit. He has often hinted
at a visit from some celebrity."

" I should not be surprised," returned Millyard. :< From what
he has written me he is doing well."

" 1 guess you will be quite agreeably surprised when Professor
Wortman shows you what he has actually been doing."

204 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Yes, I see," said Millyard. " Probably I better not antici-
pate."

While the fact was singular, yet the circumstances that brought
Madame Millyard and Mrs. Dalgal together in the same house as
host and hostess were natural.

Hiddenite Diamond Mines. 205

CHAPTER XXXV.

HIDDENITE DIAMOND MINES.

Professor Alfred Wortman with his outfit of conveyances
arrived in Hickory that night. He stopped at the Inn. A hotel
is an " inn " in that section. Early next morning he repaired to
the handsome residence of Mr. Galen Dalgal.

The party made merry, indulging in mutual explanations while
preparing for the eighteen-miles ride over rugged mountain roads
to the " green diamond " mines in Alexander county. The trip
was to be a new experience for Mrs. Millyard.

The equipment at the green diamond mines and the gold mines,
which were adjoining and in the same enclosure was a revelation
to Mr. Millyard. He had not expected such extensive works and
equipments.

The whole place was enclosed with a high plank wall as a stock-
ade. There was a large building used by those employed in both
the gold and the green diamond mines as a place where each man
made a change of clothing, in his own apartment, previous to
being passed before the inspectors, who made careful search for
gold or green diamonds ; none of either being found on their per-
son they were permitted to pass on to their boarding-house or to
their private residence, all of which were inside the enclosure.

In addition to a stated sum per diem a percentage was allowed
the miners on their daily find of either gold or green diamonds.

The amount each miner earned could be ascertained by him
from a daily bulletin which was posted outside of the big inspec-
tion house, where the superintendent had his office. Both the gold
and the green diamond miners keot one of their number, paid by
them from assessments, as check clerk to see that their rights were
preserved in giving them credit for their work. This check clerk
was elected by the miners.

Day laborers, for hauling the gold ore and gneissoid rocks con-

2o6 The Lady of New Orleans.

taining this variety of the spodumene, worked in squads under
bosses, and received three dollars per diem. Professor Wortman
would not retain any man in employ who did not earn at least two
dollars per day.

A large bank vault had been constructed in th< office part of the
big log castle, where the diamonds in the rough, as well as fin-,
ished, the gold dust and nuggets, as also the bars that were re-\
turned from the smelter, were stored for safety. The vault was {
secured by two time-locks, one on the outside iron railing door
and one on the vault door. Every man on the place knew that
not even the cashier nor the Professor, could get inside the vault
only when the time-lock was open. This was to obviate a raid
being made on the treasure.

A more cheerful and contented lot of men are seldom seen.
They were making competencies for use when they went out in
the world again. All that was necessary to keep them thus con-
tented was to prevent them from going outside of the stockade
and then to some distillery in the mountains.

Mr. Millyard was shown every detail of the business. He men-
tally noted everything he saw and often spoke to his wife aside
during their examination. Next in order Professor Wortman
took Millyard, and Dalgal accompanied them, outside the stock-
ade, mounted on saddle horses, to make a complete survey of the
surface of the land, including the adjoining tract to the southwest,
of which Dalgal had made mention to Millyard.

" Dalgal, my old dreamomaniac friend," said Millyard good-
humoredly, as the party were returning to the stockade, " you say
you are willing to sell me this land and your entire interest in this
business ? I am willing and ready to purchase at your price with
two provisos being complied with."

" What are they? " asked Mr. Dalgal, as they neared the stock-
ade coming down the mountain-side.

" The first is, that I can buy this other tract of land, and the
other is, that you will make a favorable dream for me to-night."

" People are always talking about my dreaming," retorted Dal-
gal, petulantly. " I'do not know whether I can dream for you or
not. In any event I am dubious about my ability of dreaming to
order. But'when I tell you anything is so or is going to be so, you
may rely that it will be just that way."

" O, I merely said the latter, Galie," said Millyard. " You send
and get the gentleman who owns this other tract of land to come

Hiddenite Diamond Mines. 207

here to-night and let me trade with him for it. Then I will trade
with you."

" I can have him here to-night," interposed Professor Wort-
man.

" Good ! Please do that," Millyard responded as the guard
opened the gate of the stockade.

That night the owner of the tract, Mr. Bart Hallowell, came
and Millyard traded for the tract of land in question. Hallowell
agreed to have his wife there and make the deed the next day.
* That night, just before retiring to their rooms from the immense
hall used as a sitting-room, where they had all been pleasantly
conversing during the evening, Millyard nonchalantly remarked :

" Galen, old chum, you may draw up your deed and transfer of
contract in the morning at the same time when you are drawing
up Mr. Hallowell's deed. But I wish you would tell me in the
morning how I am going to come out in this enterprise. You see,
with this I will be pretty deep into the business, and if I lose a for-
tune is wiped out."

" I cannot promise you anything more than you know and can
see for yourself," replied Dalgal, resting one hand on the big
center-table. " But if I do know anything I will tell you gladly.
This whole business has been a vision, as it were, to me."

" I don't doubt it," chimed in Millyard.

" If it has been on account of dreams." continued Dalgal, " they
have been a fortune to me, all I will want. I hope and trust it
will realize your dreams. But you will gain an hundred-fold by it
to my one. However, I want to tell you this : just before I bought
this land from our mutual friend, Judge William Buckingham
Selia, and then married my wife, since which time success and
fortune has smiled on me, I found that when spitting, whether in
the office or on the sidewalk, I invariably hit the crack. Another
thing: when I am walking along the street I find myself involun-
tarily stepping across the cracks between the flagstones of the
sidewalk. Also stepping across an imaginary line from a post
or from the corner of a house or pillar or door, or bulge in the
wall, across to the outside of the sidewalk. I think that has had
as much to do with my luck, as the Psalmist has it, if not more,
than my dreaming. I do not believe in the dreaming idea. If
it is dreaming I hope I can dream some for you. There is another
thing connected with this dreaming scheme that I cannot explain,
nor do I fully understand : my dreams are always in the past.

208 The Lady of New Orleans.

They are vivid and actual in every particular and detail, so that
they are clearly imprinted on my mind as facts. They have always
proven to be correct in some form or fashion. So, if to-night I
should dream of your making millions in this enterprise I sin-
cerely believe it will come true."

" Mr. Dalgal, that your great Genii may be enticed and fail not
to attend you," said Mrs. Wortman, the shriveled-looking wife
of the Professor, " come and take some wine before retiring."

Next morning Mr. Galen Dalgal, the partially red-headed, or,
rather, auburn-haired, and partly bald-headed lawyer of Hickory,
came marching out on the broad, rustic-furnished veranda that
surrounded the enormous log castle and, accosting Mr. Millyard,
who was an early riser, and who with Professor Wortman was
taking a morning " nip," rubbing his hands cheerily, said:

" Now look here, Alpha, I want facts, nothing but facts.
Didn't you tell me last night that you had sold these mines to the
Rothschilds for five hundred million dollars ? If you have, I think
you can afford to give me more than two hundred thousand dol-
lars for my interest."

" Ah, ha ! " shouted Millyard in great glee, and laughing loudly.
" You did have a dream then ? Out with it. Tell the whole thing."

"Dream? Nonsense!" sneered Dalgal. "Don't you know
you were sitting out here last night and told me, the Professor
heard it, how you had made more money out of these mines than
you knew what to do with? And that you did not know what
you are worth or what you own ? Professor, I ask you to verify
for me ; am I not correct ? "

" Here is some Western North Carolina corn whisky that is
pure, the best in the world," responded the Professor ; " there is
some bitters and there is some sugar. Henry, you make Mr.
Dalgal one of your very best corn whisky cock-tails."

' Yes," added Millyard, humorously, " and while he is com-
pounding you a corn cock-tail I wish to hear some further re-
marks, perorations included, about this wonderful five-hundred-
million-dollar deal that you say I pictured to you last night. Give
us the full bill of particulars and, as you are such a sure dreamer,
probably I can follow the idea or go through the woods by the
blazes on the trees."

" It makes me disgusted with people who are always denying to
me their straightforward conversations," said Dalgal, rather con-
temptuously. " They talk and talk me nearly to death and then

Hiddenite Diamond Mines. 209

talk; then come up serenely next morning and say they never
talked to me, never saw me, much less to talk."

" Yes, people are queer, Galen," softly returned Millyard. " But
I hope you will be more considerate with me. I have no reason to
doubt you, but I have a good reason for wishing to know the
methods, the manner as well as the method, of your having these
remarkable conversations and remembering them so correctly."

" That's it ! That is what puzzles me ! " exclaimed Dalgal. " I
would know it was only a dream if it were not clear to me that it
is true in every particular. You have sold this property or en-
gaged it and you can't deceive me about it."

" Why, Galen, I will not buy it from you, if you are sorry of
your bargain," replied Millyard.

" No, sir, I am a man of my word," hotly replied Dalgal, taking
the proffered glass of N. C. corn cock-tail.

" That is the reason I have never doubted you," asserted Mill-
yard. " You do not seem to appreciate my desire to be possessed
of the same kind of extraordinary mental faculties whereby you
learn in your sleep beforehand what is to be ; those things that are
to transpire many days or months subsequent. You see, if I can
be possessed of your dreamomaniacal faculty it would probably
lead me into the infinite and thus to the otherwise unattainable.
But I presume it is not intended by our great Creator that all men
should know these things, even were we to possess the faculty or
occult and innate force that you seem to monopolize. Some men
would make base use of such faculty. Hence you ought to be
considerate to those who unlike you must needs grope in igno-
rance. Now the facts are, you tell me that the Rothschilds are your
agents and bankers ! What you have stated leads me to suspect
on the spur of the moment that if we trade I possibly may be able
to make a deal with those people. They are the only persons in
the world through whom I could hope to make such a gigantic
deal. I know personally the Rothschilds in Paris, and, of course,
all about the others. I am also aware that they have their heads
set on just this kind of enterprise, outside of dealing with gov-
ernments. And it is only because stable and financially able gov-
ernments are limited and the dealings of the firm correspondingly
so, that they are forced to outside dealings. This they do where
the matters are of sufficient magnitude to warrant their attention.
They are investing in gold enterprises. Hence if this is a millions-
of-dollars affair they can very readily be persuaded into it. Tak-
14

210 The Lady of New Orleans.

ing this view of the case, don't you think you better decide not
to sell to me, or to any one else? "

Wiping his mustache and Dare forehead with a red-flowered
handkerchief, Dalgal slowly replied :

" No, my dear Alpha ; I 'told you what I would do. You took
me up and I stick to it."

" All right, Galen. I have had a plain talk with Professor
Wortman. He has given me full information and imparted many
important ideas in regard to the business. I shall accept them all,
as well as your offer to sell. The enterprise requires additional
capital immediately. I will furnish it. But I expect to make back
my money out of it before the end of two months. That is what
the Professor claims. Then I can possibly realize bv the end of
the year your dream about my selling to the Rothschilds."

" Good ! " was all that Dalgal could exclaim.

Bart Hallowell, the farmer who owned the other tract of land
containing one hundred and ninety acres, with his wife, arrived
at the log castle in the middle morning hours.

Mr. Millyard secured title in fee simple to the land for six
thousand dollars. Nearly ten times as much as the man would
have taken for the land the year before. Millyard was now the
owner of all the property except the one-fourth interest in the
net output minus one-fourth gross during the next four years and
more which the contract yet had to run.

There were congratulations and compliments and good feeling
prevailed among all the parties to the transactions. The ladies
of the party had become very much interested in the proceedings.
The transactions being concluded, Mrs. Wortman invited all the
party to the spacious dining-hall, where was served brandies,
wines, anything desired, including the original, never-failing and
only simon-pure " N. C. corn-juice." Such as the Governors use.

This being over, Mrs. Wortman invited them to a house in-
spection.

When the Spark was Started. 2 if

CHAPTER XXXVI.

WHEN THE SPARK WAS STARTED.

Such a house as the Wortman log castle exists nowhere else.
To begin a meager description of the building it may be premised
that the location suited the conception for just such a structure.

It was built with the view of its being a veritable castle, be-
cause the gold and precious stones being mined had to be stored in
it. Precaution necessitated that it be bullet-proof as well as
burglar-proof. The walls of the castle were of a foot and a half
to two feet square, or partly squared, logs, sawed from the timber
which grew on the land. The double main door opened into a
large room twenty -four feet square, a large old-fashioned fire-
place, ten feet in width by four feet deep, a grand, massive mantel
seven feet high at the top shelf and a wide stone hearth were di-
rectly in front of the main door across the room. Very wide semi-
circular staircases led up at both ends, or rather, sides, of the
large room to a wide balcony extending round the rotunda at each
of the second and third stories, supported by pillars on the ro-
tunda and rooms on the outside. The huge rotunda extended to
the roof, which was double-ceiled with finely polished long-leaf
North Carolina pine, for.-iing a beautiful dome inside. In the
third-story gallery there were no rooms, but little portholes and
small windows were close together all around the outside walls,
which commanded a plain view in all directions around the castle.

The decorations inside, although tasteful, sufficient and appro-
priate, did not show up profusely at first glance on account of the
great size of the room. Lars^e U. S. flags were festooned to the
dome. Deer antlers, bear-skins, goat and rams' horns, with a few
well-polished sets of steers' homs, and galax (aphylla) leaves
adorned the walls. Rustic rhododendron (maximum et cataw-
biense) rocking-chairs, of all sizes and quirleque make were in ap-
propriate places about the large room and halls and on the wide
front piazza.

212 The Lady of New Orleans.

A large circular table, eight feet in diameter, of two-inch walnut
planks two feet wide, highly polished, torming a huge center-
table, was decorated with lamps, mats, books, magazines and bric-
a-brac galore ; a large kerosene oil chandelier, suspended from the
center of the dome, swung high over this center-table. This large
room served as a reception chamber and drawing-room all com-
bined. The " castle " faced north. On the south side at the west
end of this large hall there was a door opening to bath-rooms,
barber-shop and so forth. The second story above this part was set
apart in rooms for the servants and others. On the south side at
the east end of the hall was a door leading to the immense dining-
hall, back and beside of which were the kitchen, pantry, laundry,
and so forth. On the east side of the hall were two doors not far
apart, one leading to the office-rooms on the north side of a pas-
sageway, the big vault-room was on the other side fronting the of-
fices ; the other door led to the sleeping apartments and so forth
occupied by Professor Wortman and his family. On the second
floor on the east and west sides of the balcony-rotunda were
twenty or more bedrooms occupied by the chief men and lapidary
men. On the west side first floor were a billiard-room, where
one could smoke, and a large hall reserved for special purposes,
such as meetings, religious and otherwise. The third story was
the arsenal and fort.

A guard stood at the door of the office by day and by night,
three men being assigned on this duty with loaded 44-caliber
Winchester rifles in hand and the same caliber revolvers at their
side, who alternated watch eight hours each in guardianship over
the great amount of treasure stored in the vault.

This rare and sparkling gem, the most valuable of all gems,
green in color, but clear and brilliant, is more popularly known
by the name of " Hiddenite." This name, Hiddenite, may be a
strikingly suggestive name, but the gem came by it honestly. How-
ever, as some one has said :

" Some day the world will say,
And this at no distant day,

' Hiddenite ' received its name
Not to its discoverer's fame,

But 'cause so long 'twas hidden,
— And thus its name."

William Earl Hidden, an American, but a member of several

When the Spark was Started. 213

*

scientific societies in Europe as well as some in the United States
was the real and first discoverer of the gem and the first to pro-
nounce it a distinct gem. Its subsequent analysis proved him to
be correct. It is classified as a variety of spodumene, and, be-
cause of its rarity, sparkling brilliancy and great beauty of color,
it is sought for by the dillctante connoisseurs and wealthy people,
especially by those of Europe and the nobility.

The supply of the gem, even at extraordinary prices is not equal
to the demand. ■ A stone of the size, shape and weight of a white
diamond which has for an intrinsic value, say of twenty-five hun-
dred dollars, is readily sold at from five thousand dollars to
twenty thousand dollars, according to brilliancy.

Professor Wortman conceived the plan of giving a numbered
certificate with each gem, the gem itself being numbered to corre-
spond and bearing the imprint of " Wortman," with another pri-
vate seal, guaranteeing the genuineness of the stone, and setting
forth, as clearly as possible a description of the gem and its setting.
Which certificate is of such nature and character, printed on pure
parchment, that every person who purchases one of the gems from
second hand can be sure that he is receiving the genuine when
this certificate accompanies it. In every instance the certificate
must be signed by the person selling the stone, which also carries
with it his guarantee of his ownership and the same warranty he
received, the same as land. Every time the gem is sold the seller,
be he king or prince, queen or my lady, or Mr. Brown, this certifi-
cate must be signed by them and transferred with the gem. Were
some other person than the true owner to sign the transfer certifi-
cate it might possibly work detrimentally to the fair reputation of
the party so doing, a larceny or burglary might be proven. Thus,
the holder of one of these gems and its certificate can trace it to its
source. If the possessor of one of the gems and none but the
wealthy can possess them, does not hold the certificate and does
not know the number he is in danger of exposure. If there is any
change in the stone or alteration in the manner of its setting the
owner so having it done must note it, the date and by whom, on
the certificate.

There was never before such a perfect scheme for protecting in
its original sanctity the genuineness and history of precious gems.
A hundred or a thousand years hence the history of one of these
gems will be interesting reading. It was an extraordinary fore-
sight in Professor Wortman to adopt the plan. He thus caused

214 The Lady of New Orleans.

his gems to be popular from the very incipiency of the business
and was thus enabled to maintain his prices for the same.

Here, then, is the most valuable and brilliant gem of all the
precious gems, one which is very rare and difficult to obtain, and
which so far in all the world has been found only inside the
limits of a bailiwick, a small area in- a county in the state of
North Carolina. The safeguards around it for the protection
of its rightful owner, the same as a title deed to real estate, give
it additional value.

Already in Great Britain the scion of a nobleman of distinc-
tion was saved from ruin and disgrace in a case in open court by
a certificate showing the genealogy of a Hiddenite gem.

But to return to the trend.

Mr. Millyard and his wife were shown the treasure in the
vault. Professor Wortman the while explained to them in detail.
The flashing emerald-hued stones had been lapidaried and then
put in gold settings, plain and ornamental, as brooches, neck-
laces, rings, bosom-studs, et cetera, in a large room adjoining the
office. In this lapidary work Millyard had been anticipated by
the Professor. Expert artisans were already employed at lapi-
darying, designing, engraving and making the settings to suit
the stones. When finished the gems were shipped to agents in
London, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Ber-
lin, and so forth, and sold to persons who, in many instances, had
engaged them months in advance.

Airs. Millyard was delighted with the business. She declared
it peculiarly adapted to a woman's taste, to which Mrs. Wortman
assented.

By consent of Professor Wortman who made the choice, Mr.
Millyard also joining in consent, Mrs. Wortman fastened upon
the bosom of Mrs. Millyard a cluster of the gems in a beautiful
setting, which was entered on the books at thirty thousand dol-
lars. The certificate, duly made out and registered, was given
along with it. Mrs. Dalgal in an aside to Mrs. Millyard, said:

" They have never given me one."

This plaintive remark was overheard by Mr. Millyard. Turn-
ing to Professor Wortman he said :

" Get one equally as elegant and let me make a present of it
to Mrs. Dalgal."

Searching among the mounted gems as they lay spread out on

When the Spark was Started. 215

trays, Professor Wortman made choice of one and handed it to
Millyard, saying:

" Here is one. We have an order from a Bavarian nobleman
for one about like it in all essential particulars and for which the
price is approximated at twenty thousand dollars. You can have
it to present to Mrs. Dalgal."

Taking the cluster of gems and advancing to Mrs. Dalgal, Mill-
yard said :

" Allow me the pleasure, Madame Dalgal, to pin this little
brooch upon your bosom as a slight testimonial, with my com-
pliments."

There was nothing untoward connected with this procedure.

Mrs. Millyard slightly bowed her head and gently imitated
making marks with the ferule of her umbrella upon the floor.

216 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

HOW THE GEMS ARE FOUND.

" O, no, don't leave to-day," said Professor Wortman to Mill-
yard. ' Wait until to-morrow. I want to show you the feasibility
of running this business to its very utmost limit and getting all
there is in it out of it in the quickest time possible."

" I am aware of that fact," replied Millyard. " It is my desire
to run it at the highest pressure possible. I would like very much
to determine before I leave what is necessary to be done to that
end. I guess we will remain until to-morrow if Mr. Dalgal is
willing."

Mr. Dalgal was a complacent, indeed a very amiable, gentle-
man. He had his fortune in ' is pocket.

"How much more capital do you want?" asked Millyard of
Wortman.

" I have the assets here on hand," the old man replied, " and
more besides, as you have seen, t>ut I have not the cash and will
not have it until we get returns from Europe. We may not need
so much as I am going to mention, but I want it at our com-
mand. If I had a hundred thousand dollars I would telegraph
and get a 1 undred and fifty or one hundred and seventy-five
more expert lapidary-men and one hundred more expert gold-
smiths at once. Then put three hundred more miners to work
and get about thirty-five thousand dollars' worth of new, im-
proved, up-to-date machinery, about which I received a letter re-
cently, as they have not yet got out a catalogue. I can in about
three weeks after I get all this begin to turn out two million
dollars' worth a day, probably a little over."

" Good gracious, man ! You stagger me, both ways," laughed
Millyard. " If our friend Dalgal sends in his check at once I
will not have a balance sufficient to let you have a hundred
thousand at once. P>ut if you can do what you say I will try and
arrange it as soon as I get to New Orleans,"

How the Gems are Found. 217

" As I said," rejoined Professor Wortman, " I may not need
that much nor require but very little of it before we realize in re-
turns from Europe ; but before I make the venture I want to know
that amount of cash is at command to back me. You see a man
can be more confident of a thing when he has good cash backing.
I have the knowledge of how to do it and you have the money
to back me. Here we have the plant and the real stuff right there
in the ground and all we have to do is to take it out and work
it into available material, marketable shape. The nearer we put
it into a commodity ready for sale and use the more money we
will make out of it."

" True," responded Millyard. " By that means we make all
the profits of production up to an actual sale by retail, as it were.
By the way, could you arrange it so that you can send all your
surplus gold, I mean over what you use here in the business, to
the mint at Philadelphia and let it be placed for coinage to my
credit?"

" Certainly," responded Professor Wortman. " I can get re-
turns from Europe in three or four weeks on those gems already
sent and probably those on the way. Besides, I can send a lot
more of them at once. I will ship what gold we have on hand at
once and ask that it be placed to your credit. The mint director
will furnish me with statements and I can enter it in the books
against you."

" That will be satisfactory," assented Millyard. " I will give
you my check for twenty-five thousand dollars now and will send
you the balance from New Orleans. I see that you are a push-
ing man ; that suits me exactly. I want to be back here in about
three weeks."

" By that time I will have this business in full blast," said
Wortman, pushing his spectacles up over his forehead, " turning
out at least a million dollars' worth every day we work, if not up
to the two-million mark. That amount is where my pegs are
set. I shall make my orders by telegraph. That requires that I
send a boy over to Hickory on a horse in a gallop."

When the check was given and the boy was gone the level-
headed old Professor said :

" Now, since this matter is settled and off my mind, I will ask
you and Mr. Dalgal to please excuse me while I attend to the af-
fairs of the mines. Just make yourselves at home ; do as you please
and go where you please ; only the guards will not let you out of
the stockade."

2i8 The Lady of New Orleans.

Being alone, Millyard and Dalgal engaged themselves in con-
versation.

" I say, Galen," said Millyard, " are you a descendant of the
gentleman who introduced medicine and surgery by journeying
from Athens to Africa in quest of a corpse? Of course not,
but — why did you sell? You heard what the Professor said
about the business paying? "

" Well, Alpha, to tell you the truth, I did not know the scope
nor extent of the business. I have never examined into it fully.
The Professor has been telling me about it, and has been persuad-
ing me to go into a. joint stock company and all that sort of thing,
but I had no ready money. I needed some at once. Two hun-
dred thousand dollars cash in hand, besides what I have already
got as my share of the output, for a piece of old mountain land
that I swapped an old horse and a worn-out buggy for, is, I think,
a pretty good piece of business."

" Sensible to the last," retorted Millyard. " But I want to
ask this : Was it on account of any adverse dream ? ,;

" Now you are hitting at the quick," replied Dalgal to Mill-
yard's soft impeachment. " If you will persist in calling them
dreams, Alpha, I may as well admit that they were all on your
side, in your favor. I could not see anything far ahead in my
favor and, while I was not anxious to sell, I set a price and you
took me up. Your doing so shows to me that you are the lucky
man, while I also consider myself a lucky man to get my price.
But it has all come through talking "

" Dreaming, you mean," interposed Millvard.

" Call it dreaming then, you who do not know any better. A
good dream is better than a bad one. I have had good luck ever
since I have noticed that I involuntarily step across a crack in the
floor or on the sidewalk. Whenever I am forced to put a foot
across a crack I place the hollow of the foot centrally across it.
Since I commenced doing so f have had good luck and success
in every enterprise. Why, it has come to me when I did not
expect it. I gained a case for a client the other day when I knew
he was guilty and I had given up in despair. The Judge unin-
tentionally suggested a technicality, which acquitted my client.
I am certain that what you told me the other night about your
going to sell this business to the Rothschilds, or through them,
will come to pass." Mr. Dalgal evidently firmly believed in his
omens of expectorating on the mark and stepping across the
cracks, he alluded to them so frequently.

How the Gems are Found. 219

" Well, now, Galen, I did not tell you that ; but let that pass,"
said Millyard, placatingly. " I can understand the situation. I
only hope it will come true. I want to engage your legal services
to take care of my interest here as well as the legal business of the
concern. Your salary shall be five thousand dollars a year from
now."

" Of course, Alpha, I will do anything for you," replied Dalgal.
" Your proposal is accepted."

The manner of mining for the green diamond is interesting.
The gem-bearing stones are found in pockets, sometimes forty or
fifty gem-stones are found in a pocket, and then again in other
places only eight or ten are secured. It frequently happens that
they are scattered like pebbles in the sand and only one stone is
found, but the miners follow the lead and take out a single stone
at a time, or none, until they come to another pocket. This was
the primitive way of mining them ; Professor Wortman adopted a
speedier method. He found a pump that was made in Hickory
which washed down the mountain.

It is not every stone that contains a gem, but the expert learns
to know them by sight. Occasionally stones are found in the
naked, that is, loose in the soil, not encased in a stone. These
are thought by some to be not quite so hard as those gems found
inside the stones. But this theory is not correct, because it would
tend to show that the gems deteriorate after exposure, which is
not the case. There is apparently no difference between them.
They are certainly as clear and sparkling as those found in the
rocks.

These gems are as clear, pure, green as the Scythian smarag-
dits (green beryl) from the emerald mines at Zabora. They are
found concealed in about the center of the stones. It was a nice
question to obtain a rock-crusher that would not injure the gems.
The machinery they first had for the purpose was not exactly
adapted. It had crushed several valuable gems, one of them that
was thus crushed would have fetched enough money to pay for
two hundred crushers. It was to get new and specially improved
machines for crushing the stones and extricating the gems with-
out crushing them that Professor Wortman wanted ready money
and for which he was in such a hurry to telegraph. He also
wanted additional stamps for the gold ore at once. He also
wanted to enlarge the gold separator and introduce a new process
then just out. In fact, he wanted to make the one hundred

220 The Lady of New Orleans.

thousand dollars procure them over five hundret thousand dollars'
worth of new improvements.

The original mode of breaking- the stones with a long-handled
or geologist's hammer, whereby the gems were first discovered,
was a process entirely too slow. The machine for crushing them
instead must needs be very stout, yet delicate, and easily manipu-
lated to ensure that no gem would be crushed or injured.

Next day Millyard and Dalgal, with their families, accompanied
by Professor and Mrs. Wortman, were driven to Hickory, where
Mr. Millyard and his family boarded the train bound for New
Orleans.

Retrospectively Introspective. 221

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

RETROSPECTIVELY INTROSPECTIVE.

As punk from flint the spark will take.
*******

Arriving in New Orleans the first business that occupied the
attention of Mr. Millyard was to arrange about the money matters
for Professor Wortman. He informed Mr. Mike Delarue about
his venture and asked for his assistance.

" That is an easy matter, no trouble," he replied to Millyard's
question. " I have the money right here on hand and you have
no need to call on New York. A customer of ours has left
sixty thousand dollars for me to place. I will place it and fifteen
thousand more to your credit and you can send your check for
seventy-five thousand or as much of it as you want by to-day's
mail."

' That is fortunate," said Alpha. " I am greatly cbliged, Mr.
Delarue."

' Mike, if you please," said Delarue, bowing gravely.

Laughing, also bowing, Millyard responded :

" All right, Mike, old chummie, anything you say I sanction.
I want to see your wife and your babies ; can't you bring them
over to our house this afternoon ? "

" That is just what we are going to do. We have been looking
for you several days. My wife is anxious to see yours and the
babies. You must come to Victor's and lunch with me to-day
and just one more bottle of ' champ.' I have quit, but I must
take one with you as a memorial of the past."

' Why not go to Johnnie's and make the thing complete ? "
asked Alpha.

" I accept your amendment," Mike replied. " But Johnnie,

mmmmm

222 The Lady of New Orleans.

poor fellow, is dead. I was one of his honorary pall-bearers. He
often spoke with me about your pulling me out of the gutter. He
thought you the best man he ever knew. He had many a wordy
fight on your account, and one of those detective fellows after a
hot bout Johnnie gave him for some shady work quit going into
his house, and Johnnie finally got him dismissed from the force."
' You wrote me about that girl, what was her name ? "

:' Bertha ? O, yes ! She went to the bad, where her head was
set. Her father caused it ; he almost actually forced her to it by
his unfilial conduct towards her. She drowned herself out in
Lake Pontchartrain near where we saw Sam Waxelbaum and the
woman bathing. Villeguini had deserted her."

" Where is Villeguini ? " asked Millyard.

" In the asylum, Russian kummel and absinthe. A wreck men-
tally and physically. Sam Wax is dead; so is your good friend
Judge Cotton. I was one of his pall-bearers, on your account.
We talked about you every time we met. He transferred his ac-
count here to our bank. He was very well off, in fact, rich. He
owned a quantity of real estate scattered all over the city. Every-
thing is changed all round here now. The atmosphere is pure.
Your persecutors are all out of the way. You must remain here
now, unless your gem scheme pans out so heavily that New Or-
leans will be too circumscribed for you."

' Mike. I could not give up New Orleans, the dear old place,
under any circumstances. It is the finest, most delightful and the
most cosmopolitan city in the world. Even if I was tortured here
I also found here the best or dearest friends I have. It was here
that my dear wife came to be my good Samaritan and then mar-
ried me. Then you helped me out of my troubles. O, I am a
New Orlean. If I strike it big sure enough up there in North
Carolina, as I am quite sure I will, I want to increase the capital
stock of this bank."

" I can do all the business we can get on one million dollars cash
capital. We have nearly two million deposits now on only three
hundred thousand cash capital, as you know, having fifty-one per
cent, of it yourself." Mr. Delarue was called aside by the cashier.

As Millyard started out Delarue halted him, remarking:

' Be sure and call here at half-past twelve ; we will take lunch
together. Meantime, before you go make your note there to the
bank for fifteen thousand and the other to Gail B. Dheumazeil for
sixty thousand and leave them on my desk. I will endorse the

Retrospectively Introspective. 223

one to the bank and tell the board about it when they meet
directly."

Millyard did as directed and then drove to the office of the
steamship company, then to the street railway and then to the
offices of the various other corporations in which he and his wife
were interested and consulted about the business affairs at each.
Promptly at the appointed time he was back at the bank.

Mr. Alpha Millyard and Mr. Mike Delarue had, in many re-
spects, an old time at Johnnie's. They talked over the past and
discussed business for the future during a full spread lunch. Two
more congenial and happy men seldom get together as friends.
Their friendship had been tested at a time when they were both
under unfavorable circumstances, now it was being cemented
more closely if possible, the conditions being altered to those de-
cidedly more favorable.

Mr. Delarue was at the head of the bankers of New Orleans.
He ascribed his success to Mr. Millyard, while the fatter credited
his preservation in life, even, as well as good fortune, to Delarue.

Mrs. Milliard's mother was feeble. The return of her daugh-
ter, after an absence the longest in her life, with two charming
and very bright grandchildren for her comfort in old age, were
hailed with great joy by the old lady.

Returning home from the bank Alpha was informed by his
wife that her mother desired to see her son-in-law in her apart-
ments.

A remarkably handsome, very light-colored, gray, but some-
what bushy-haired, elderly lady, seated in an easy plush chair in a
luxuriantly-furnished room, greeted Mr. Millyard as he entered,
saying :

" So this is my son-in-law, the father of my handsome grand-
son and my beautiful granddaughter? I am very glad to meet
you and welcome you here as the head of the family."

" We are delighted, my dear mother-in-law, to get back here,
and I am more than delighted to find you in such excellent health
and cheerful spirits. Our hurried departure from New Orleans
after our hasty marriage prevented me from having the pleasure
of seeing you before we left. We were young and gay then.
Now, while we are still young, we are not quite so gay. How-
ever, gay enough for married people with two children. Our
time is occupied now with the children."

" You will have to leave the children to me and my care, and

224 The Lady of New Orleans.

let them be a solace to me in my old age. I will take as good,
if not better-care of them than either you or Rittea." It will be
so much pleasure to me."

" They shall not be deprived of the gfood care and training of
their affectionate grandmother, nor she of their solace, but we can
all have our share. My mother will also delight in their com-
panionship and take great pains in training them. So, you see,
we must all have a hand in their rearing," suggested Millyard,
no doubt for a lurking reason.

" Where is your mother ? I know she must be a good woman
and as gentle as a fawn," softly said the old lady, as she eyed
Millyard critically.

" My mother resides at Atlanta, Georgia," responded Millyard,
meeting her gaze. " We must visit her before a great while, as
soon as business will permit."

" It will be one of the pleasures of my life," said Mrs. Millyard,
as she walked up beside Mr. Millyard and caressed him on the
shoulder.

" I feel very proud of my noble son-in-law," said Madame de
Ampbert. " And yon both, and the children, have my blessings.
I live now only but for you all. You shall have all my worldly
possessions."

" O, mother, Mr. Millyard will soon have more money than he
will know what to do with. He has acquired the foundation for
the largest fortune in the world. It is near where he once prac-
tised law in North Carolina. And strange, romantic, as it is, he
met up with it through the husba d of the lady to whom he was
engaged to be married when I first knew him. And, mother, she
is beautiful."

" Watch out, my children, that you do not tempt fortune too
far."

"In what way, mother?" inquired Mrs. Millyard somewhat
eagerly.

" My child, I merely make the admonition ; let it be in whatso-
ever direction."

These were ominous words to Rittea. Without trying she
somehow continued to remember the presentation to Mrs. Dalgal
by Mr. Millyard of the -beautiful thirty-thousand-dollar cluster of
emerald-diamond gems. Firmly, nevertheless, she suppressed any
symptoms she mav have felt of a jealous nature. Her proud
spirit would not yield to that indiscretion.

Retrospectively Introspective. 225

Mr. and Mrs. Delarue, accompanied by their children, called
that evening. Comparisons of the two boys and the two girls
were made. The disparity in their ages were the reverse of what
they desired. However, they decided upon the only alternative,
that of waiting for time and themselves to decide their fate be-
tween them.

Next day while taking lunch at Victor's, Millyard took occasion
to make some slight animadversions :

" Mike, I have the noblest woman in the world for a wife ; she
is beautiful and I love her dearly, not alone on account of what she
has done for me, but on account of her nobleness of heart and her
own sweet self. Life would be worthless to me without her. But
I do wish I did not know that her mother is part a negress."

" Gracious, man ! " exclaimed Mike. " Did you ever swallow a
clam in the dark and think it was an oyster? It was just as
good."

" Yes, but if you wanted an oyster and found out the difference
then it grated on the palate. I know I ought to be a happv man,
and I am a happy man. I have now everything I want and am in
a fair way to make not only millions but hundreds of millions, and
could then buy an empire outright in fee simple. But there is
something gnawing at my vitals. There is not another man to
whom I would confess this, and I would not do so to you, only
for the fact that you know all about it already and that you were
my proven friend before my marriage and have since demon-
strated your continued devotion. Hence, I say I would not tell
any other person this but you and I believe you will not abuse my
confidence."

" You are right in so believing," said Delarue earnestly and
seriously. " While it is true that I will not under any circum-
stances abuse your confidence, I want to reason with you, as you
would with me, and tell you frankly that you are brewing, yes,
generating your own misery and, doubtless, your own downfall
and ruin. Now please desist. Do it for my sake and the sake of
your charming, gentle wife, and especially your beautiful innocent
children. You cannot afford it. It is beneath you. You are too
noble to persist in it. Give it up, stop it right where you are.
Damn clams and oysters, too, when it comes to that. You are in
the boat, too ; donVsink it. Others will sink with you. Millyard,
be a man ! Be yourself ! Now do not ever let that idea enter
your head again. If it does beat it down! "

IS

226 The Lady of New Orleans.

Delarue had warmed to his subject and become energetic in
his speech He emphasized his remarks with vehement gesticula-
tions, concluding by slamming his fist on the table.

" Mike," calmly remarked Millyard, as he sipped the last of
his champagne, " you are a philosopher. I will do it, so help me
God. I intend to rear and educate my boy in such way and man-
ner that he can, should it ever be brought into public discussion
that he has a taint of negro blood in his veins, be elected to any
office, or even the Presidency of these United States ; that is, fill
the office if elected. But you know if the taint of blood should be
ever made against him he could never be elected President, no
matter on what party's ticket he might be a candidate. The North
would not vote for him and you know the South would not. How-
ever, a very rich man has little show to be President. But, as I
say, I want my son to be qualified for filling any office, even Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court. Therefore he must needs be a
statesman. They are scarce. A statesman must have a practical
knowledge of all affairs, everything, from the bottom as he goes
up, and to gain this he must be a politician. My son will be a
gentleman. Hence, with all the instincts appertaining to a gen-
tleman, ignorant, as he will be of the taint in his blood, when he
becomes a candidate for the state legislature, the stepping stone,
some opposing party man, hoodlum, or henchman would bring
out the charge (taint of blood). Then can't you see what an
awkward position my son would be placed in ? The fact would
come out to him for the first time. He would brood over it, and
probably inquire into it. Or he would deny it and then they
would prove it by one or two affidavits based on hearsay. But it
would put him on notice. Naturally he would secretly inquire
into the matter and find it to be true. Then he would throw up
the sponge, a humiliated, mortified man. Then where will the
end be? Live? Of course he would. But ambition stunted
and thwarted produces a nonentity in life. No good to himself ;
no good to his fellow man. A weary dispenser of nothing but
stolid cash charity, and that not appreciated, but taken as a mat-
ter of fact and claimed by right To what end does this lead us ?
Think. Were it suddenly proven to any man of social pride, and
to be a gentleman is to have that pride, that his blood is tainted
with negro blood how would he feel ?

" You are delving into life more seriously and practically than
I had anticipated, my dear Millyard. But with your intelligence

Retrospectively Introspective. 227

and position in life I think you will readily concede that your
own words, and your solicitude for your son's future, will suffice
to illustrate to you the impracticality and error of your brood-
ing over the very same cause, in effect, of what you complain
your son should not be made the innocent victim. Do you see?
You have done no wrong. Your wife has done no wrong.
Why chastise yourselves mentally unnecessarily for something
antecedent to your life over which neither of you had any con-
trol ? Make the best of what you are, wh".t you inherited. True
the sins of the fathers shall be visited and so forth, but when they
are visited, a person, one who wants to do right, and does right,
may atone his share to some extent by acquiescing in meekness
while holding his head superbly aloft. Do not thou sin and let
them be visited also."

" Alike, I make you a full Bishop on the spot. You give me
great comfort. I thought I was a philosopher. Well, I am, in
any other case except my own. Somehow I do not always like
doing as I yvould tell others to do. Still, if I stop to think I know
which is the right and which is the wrong. I do not mind doing
the right. I prefer to do the right. It is easier. It runs more
smoothly. There is less friction. Fewer accidents. I will now
tell you what I" can do.

" I can keep my family with me up at the mines in North Caro-
lina on the plea of business requiring me to be there, which is
the case if I do the subject justice. If I remain away from the
scene of my dear, good old mother-in-law the idea will not haunt
me so forcibly and continuously Yet she told me yesterday she
must have the children to care for. To take them away from
her would jeopardize her longevity. My mother also desires to
see the children. So there it is.

" Mike," continued Millyard, " I never had one word of praise
or urging encouragement from any person in any affair of life
until it was done by you. I hoped and longed for some one to
praise me ; in every effort I made I always thought surely some-
one would say a good cheering word, but alas it never came until
it came from you. Now, however, I will take your admonition
and stand up under the ordeal, I assure you of that."

A brother is not always, or invariably, so confiding as two
friends who have been made so by adverse circumstances. These
two men had both been reared "from childhood in the old-time,
self-same way. They had both found the same cavernous holes

228 The Lady of New Orleans.

and stumbling stones. Furthermore, they had from similar un-
lofty perches hit the prototype in like soft, self-same spot. True?
Brave? Yea, as much so as the truest and the bravest. There
was no guile in them. Their love for each other was beautiful.
A man without another to back him in all emergencies is not
much of a man.

Millyard Gets a Dividend. 229

CHAPTER XXXIX.

MILLYARD GETS A DIVIDEND.

" Galen, my dear friend, I am glad to meet you," said Mill-
yard as he stepped from the railway coach at Hickory at noon and
his hand was grasped by that of Galen Dalgal, Esquire, four
weeks from the time it was before.

11 I received your telegram and am glad to welcome you,
Alpha," replied Dalgal, as they started oft for his house. " I
was out at the mines day before yesterday and that fellow Wort-
man is just playing thunder "

'What? Not doing right?" interposed Millyard abruptly
and eagerly.

" Great Csesar! Napoleon! Jackson and the whole kit! No, no,
the other way," ejaculated Dalgal in a highly exclamatory man-
ner. "By thunder! He is taking out more in one day, yes, in
two hours, than you paid for the whole business. Mind you
however, there is no other person outside of the Professor -and
myself who know anything about it. He only let me into the
secret on account of our confidential relationship. I tell you he
is a wonderful man. He knows everything. He can turn sand
into money. Why sir, he is taking the sand out of the creek and
selling it for some purpose at eight cents a pound, and you know
sand weighs heavy ? He calls it monazite. But it comes by an-
other sight nearer being moneyzite. He is turning everything
into money. He says he is making it all for you, because you are
the only man who ever gave him latitude to do as he pleased, and
furnished him the money to do it with."

By this time they were seated in Mr. Dalgal's surrey and on the
wav to his residence. Mr. Millvard's valet assisted by Dalgfal's
man were looking after the baggage.

" Galen, do you mean to tell me that he has struck it sure
enough rich ? "

" That is just exactly what I am telling you," retorted Dal-

230 The Lady of New Orleans.

gal. ' I saw it all myself. Besides, don't you remember, let me
see? Don't you remember when you and I were talking about
the — er, the other day "

" Galen, you have been dreaming again. We had no conver-
sation the other day. I was in New Orleans and, I presume, you
were here. Let me tell you, while on this point : I have hit the
crack, as you term it, every time I have spat, as you say, since
you told me about that being the symbolization, as it were, of
your success. Besides, I do not plant my foot square across
the seam, or crack in the sidewalk ; nor across the imaginary line
from pillar to post. I straddle them every time. So vou see, if
I have success it will be through education imparted by you.
Watch out now that I do not excel my teacher. But, I must
confess an antipathy to superstitious notions, even though I do
involuntarily possess them."

' You need not call it superstition," retorted Dalgal. " Just
go ahead and do it. I may as well call it religion. It is simply
the doing a thing which if adhered to, persisted in, leads to sat-
isfactory given results ; and is nothing but Faith. If you have
faith in anything stick to it. I have faith that has led" me into
the way of believing that if I do certain things certain results will
inevitably follow. These things serve to teach me to be cautious of
what I am doing and where I am walking. What do you think of
that?"

" I suppose it is a sort of mind employment," replied Millyard.
' Probably an adjunct of religious sentiment. Any belief having
faith, which is a requisite, in the supernatural, is a species of relig-
ion. Religion is nothing but faith in the concrete. I agree with
you, if you have faith in its efficacy for your good, adhere and
conform to it. • For if you do differently you do violence to and
shock your own conscience."

" I do not wish to anticipate your gratification, Alpha. There
comes Professor Wortman now," said Dalgal.

" Good evening, Professor," said Millyard. They arrived at
Dalgal's residence about the same time.

1 You are going out with me this afternoon, I suppose ? " in-
quiringly said the Professor, as they halted simultaneously.

' Not to-night, Professor," interposed Dalgal. " You just let
the boys take your teams with mine to my barn and you remain
here all night, unless you want to send them back this afternoon."

" I guess they better remain over until morning," slowly said

Millyard Gets a Dividend. 231

the Professor ; " we have some gold and gems which I wish to ex-
press. Besides, I have to get some provisions and other sup-
plies."

When they were in the house in answer to a question of Mill-
yard as to how he was getting along, Professor Wortman gave an
account very much as Mr. Dalgal had forecast.

" You and my old friend Dalgal are evidently feeding me on
very bright expectations," said Millyard, when the Professor had
finished.

" Mr. Dalgal, with your permission, please have those trunks
brought in the house," said Professor ; " I will show Mr. Millyard
what we are talking about. Instead of our wanting more money
from him we are prepared to give him two or three million dol-
lars, and I think I have here the stuff that will fetch about two
million more, and we have over twice this much more of un-
mounted gems at the mines."

The treasure of glittering brilliant gems in two trunks was ex-
hibited to Millyard's astounded gaze. The trunks were heavy and
strongly bound, trunks somewhat similar to those used by hard-
ware drummers.

"Great Scott! What can we do with all the money?" ex-
claimed Millyard when he had examined the glittering contents
of the trunks.

" Do good with it, my dear sir," rejoined Professor Wortman.
" As long as you do good with it you cannot have too much."

" Just so," said Millyard, reflectively. " I suppose that means to
establish and maintain schools of practical training in all pursuits
of life ? eh ? But as for me not a solitary cent for the conversion of
the so-called heathen. I regard the training, education and civili-
zation of my own friends and neighbors, my own people, my kith
and kindred, those people under the American flag, as paramount
to all other pecuniary duties. I know a thousand different ways
in which money can be placed to the very great and everlasting
good of those people around us. Such disposition of my surplus
money would necessarily be to my own benefit here in this life, as
well as hereafter. I know of more than a thousand families who,
with a few thousand dollars, could be brought, not alone out of
want, but into the avenues of great usefulness in life. I would ad-
minister to them. No deserving man in want shall apply to me
in vain."

" That is all right in theory, Alpha, my dear sir," ventured

232 The Lady of New Orleans.

Dalgal. " But when would you arrive at the point and time
wherein this all-saving philanthropic humanitarianism would as-
sume the ascendency? You think now you would do all these
things, and perhaps more ; but it is a serious question as to the
when, the period, when you arrive at that point when you are
willing to commence dispensing this unbounded, yea, much
needed charity.

" A man says he will, but when he accumulates his wealth he
seems to fail to comprehend the point and time at which he shall
commence the proper and judicious distribution of the surplus
wealth which he has acquired. In other words, he has no sur-
plus."

" Yes, I guess I cannot say; I am not as other men," responded
Millyard. " Yet I am of the opinion at present that I shall give of
my means to those of my people, my countrymen, who are deserv-
ing, and see the good of my contribution while I am living. It will
enable me to slide out of the world in a happy frame of mind. Just
as soon as I give a family two or three thousand dollars as a starter
in life I would then like to get on a house-top with a spy-glass and
watch the old man and the old woman and their youngsters go to
wriggling and dancing and working like bees, new life and new
hope in the house, and a blessing on the God-sent messenger with
relief. I could risk myself to fly off the roof without wings. My
good and charming wife has taught me practical charity. I
often go and see the objects of my bounty in person, as she does
hers. Then we give more or less as the case requires."

Next morning the party set out for Alexander as soon as Pro-
fessor Wortman had laid in his supplies and arrived at the mines
by three o'clock. What Millyard saw was a startling revelation.

While standing on the wide veranda viewing the scene, the
workmen around as well as inside the big house down in the val-
ley, the miners and the men handling the big sluice of water ob-
liquely further west on the opposite hill, wheelbarrows laden with
Hiddenite gem-bearing stones, all presenting a scene of anima-
tion and rushing activity, Millyard suddenly inquired:

" Are these miners like other miners — strike on you? "

" I do not know about that," replied Professor Wortman.
" We have not had a strike so far. But the thing is becoming
fashionable. I would not be surprised to have a strike."

" Strikes," said Millyard, " render industrial enterprises haz-
ardous investments."

Millyard Gets a Dividend. 233

" Exactly," replied Wortman. " I could not run this business
two months without that high fence inclosing this place. I will
not keep a man in here who cannot make his two dollars a day —
and from that on up to ten and twelve. A man who cannot earn
three dollars a day is in the way of others who can earn more
than that. I have none but good men in our employ and they all
seem satisfied."

Mr. Millyard now entered upon a more particular and thorough
examination over the grounds, through the diggings, in both the
gem and the gold mines ; throughout the machinery plants and
the workshops, where the gems are lapidaried and the gold is mal-
eated ; the finishing-rooms, where the gems are set in gold mount-
ings, as per specifications furnished by an expert designer and his
assistants, who examine each gem and specify in writing and de-
sign the style and manner of its setting, which is sent with the
gem from one expert to the other along the line of workmen until
it comes out at the other end a finished piece of artistic workman-
ship ready for the eye of the connoisseur. Then it is registered
by one of the bookkeepers and by the cashier, with its number
and description, together, with a private mark on the gem and
the setting.

After this the valuable contents of the huge steel vault, the
products, were examined, and then Millyard was shown the books.
Going into his private office, Professor Wortman said :

" I have here a private statement of the returns on shipments,
and here are the vouchers and reports themselves. I keep this ac-
count myself and do not allow the bookkeepers or the cashier even
to know anything about it. I do not wish them to know the
money volume of business we are doing. There are, and you can
readily perceive, reasons why this should be the case. I want v,o
one becoming offended and then peaching. You can see from this
statement that we are producing about two million dollars' worth
a day ; or, that is, at the rate of fifty million a month. I have paid
for the machinery and everything. We do not owe a cent, except
to you. Only yesterday I ordered fifty thousand dollars' worth of
new machinery the inventor has not yet patented, only made appli-
cation. I have the money to pay cash for it on arrival. Besides,
I have the money here to pay you back what you loaned and
enough to pay you a dividend of three million. Is that doing-
well ? "

" Great Je-ru-sa-lem ! " exclaimed. Millyard. " You stagger

234 The Lady of New Orleans.

me again. That is astounding. It is startling and dazzling beyond
all comprehension."

" I would like to let you have fifty' thousand dollars iri cash,"
said Professor Wortman, " if you care to handle that amount on
vour person, and give you a check for four hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, and the balance, three million dollars, is in both
domestic and foreign exchange. One hundred thousand dollars
is in return of your loan. That leaves three million four hundred
thousand dollars as a dividend, which makes you a profit of three
million one hundred thousand on your investment of one hundred
thousand at first and then the two hundred thousand you paid Mr.
Dalgal. Except the six thousand you paid for the other tract of
land. If that does not dazzle you, nor disturb your pulse, I guess
you are proof."

" Ah, my dear Professor, you are trying to test my brain
power," jocularly replied Millyard. " Give me the cash in as large
bills as you have."

" It is already counted in the largest bills I have ; we need the
small ones," replied Professor Wortman, as he produced several
packages of currency, which he placed on the table in the center of
the room.

" This is hardly a good beginning; you count it," he said. " If
the output holds out as it is, and I have calculated that it will, at
least a few years, and nothing happens to us. and you can help me
get a good market for these other gems, there ought to be nearly
one hundred million dollars ready for a dividend in about two
months."

"Well, well!" said Millyard. "That beats Dalgal's dreams,
but it is the only thing that could. Professor, it is coming too
easy.

" I have worked a lifetime for it, and I am an old man," he
said. " I may not have found it now had I not struck up with an
idiot at a cabin in the woods who can see only in the night-time ;
but then, he can see in the ground. He told me about the place
and who owned it. Then it was easy enough for me to find it.
Then I accidentally met up with you. The balance you know.
There is about it some strange mysterious secret to me. I was in
Australia when I dreamed about it. I come here and searched for
months all in vain until I met the moon-eyed idiot who saw the
gems in the ground through the rocks in the night-time. Then
when I found Mr. Dalgal I found him to be a dreamer of most

Millyard Gets a Dividend. 235

mysterious power. It was almost equally as marvelous how I met
up with you. I have given up the task of accounting' for it all and
content myself with the facts as they are."

Professor Wortman then placed from his safe on the table the
bills of exchange, the check and the receipts to be signed. Mill-
yard proceeded with the counting of the money, while the Profes-
sor went out.

When Millyard finished counting and adding the figures the
Professor returned. He handed Millyard a cluster of the gems
in a setting for his bosom, saying :

;' Here is a cluster of the Hiddenites, which I had the chief de-
signer to make a design of the setting especially for you, and the
goldsmith did his best work on it. The value of it is estitru ed at
sixty-eight thousand dollars. Here is the certificate which goes
with it. This is a cluster I had made for myself. Is it not hand-
somely set? I thought I would make a present of one to you and
one to myself."

Observing that the gems in the cluster the Professor was pre-
senting to himself were not as large as those given to him, Mill-
yard asked him the value of his.

He replied about twenty or twenty-five thousand.

;' Nonsense," said Millyard, handing it back to him. " Go get
you one just as handsome as this or have one specially made, and
accept it with my compliments. Also have a breast-pin made for
your wife and also one for mine."

" I have now the very best thing for your wife," said the Pro-
fessor. " It is a magnificent Maltese cross of gems attached to a
necklace set with gems all around it. I will get it for you now.
It is rated at one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars."

The Professor went and got the necklace-cross. Millyard eyed
it eagerly curious a few moments, then said :

' Magnificent vanity ; she will not wear it, but I will give it to
her."

" Did you notice that large necklace with pendants and a
cross? " asked the Professor. " It is listed at three hundred thou-
sand dollars. Some dealer will get that and sell it for half a
million."

' The only limit to the business is the amount of the deposit of
the gems which nature has made," suggested Millyard. " Still,
the less of them the better the price we can receive for those we
do get"

236 The Lady of New Orleans.

" That reminds me, there is something for you to do," said Pro-
fessor Wortman, as he gesticulated by tossing up his left hand at
an angle of about fifty degrees with only the index finger ex-
tended and gazing into Millyard's eyes.

" What is that ? I am at your service," he replied.

Drawing his leather-cushioned office-chair a little closer toward
Millyard, he answered :

" You will have to make a trip to Europe at once to look after
the sales of our gems and find a more favorable market for our
other beryls. Hiddenite takes care of itself and sells as fast as we
can land them in Europe. Our system of giving a numbered
certificate of guarantee with each gem helps to insure their ready
sale. I think the system could be adopted to advantage with the
other gems. I was troubled about my alloys until I struck a streak
of luck over on that other tract of land of yours about ten days
ago. I went ahead and am working on it without your per-
mission."

" That is what I bought it for," said Millyard. " Well, I can
sail for Europe as soon as I get back to New Orleans. I can go
from there to Havre on one of the steamers of a line of them in
which we are largely interested. It is my desire to stop over in
Atlanta : I want to see my mother and my sister. I must telegraph
my wife that I am coming ; a trip to Europe has upset my other
plans. Can you send a message over to Hickory ? ,:

" The hack starts in ten minutes," replied the Professor. " I
will send it by the hackman."

Next day the two happy gentlemen and the third one with care
and thought plainly knit on his wrinkled brow parted company at
the mines and Millyard and Dalgal were being rapidly driven to
Hickory in the latter's carriage, where the former was to board
the railroad train bound for Salisbury, there to change cars for
Atlanta. Millyard put the question which was uppermost in
his mind :

" Galen, do you have any regrets about selling vour interests
here?"

" To tell you the truth, Alpha, I do regret it. But I never grieve
over spilt milk or anything else lost to me. In regard to that
point I suppose I could ask the same question of my friend Judge
Selia, to whom I swapped my old plow-horse and wornout buggy
for this tract of land. Don't you think he regrets it? He has the
same right to be envious as I am on that question. I have to be

Millyard Gets a Dividend. 237

satisfied. For that reason I am satisfied. Besides, my friend has
what he wanted for the land and I have what I wanted for it. The
difference is, I have out of it a full competency for life, while he
has not. I will be easy and have but few cares with the ample
fortune I received for it."

" That is just the way I shall feel if I can turn round and sell.
I would not envy the man or men to whom I mav sell at my price,
even were they to make untold millions out of it."

" Have you formed any plans J. ' inquired Ealgal.

" Yes, to some extent I have," Millyard answered. " I hope, as
I saicl to you previously, that I may be able to sell as your dream
portended. I may see the Rothschilds about it. I want you to
dream for me again ; your services in that way will be worth ten
thousand dollars a year and all your traveling expenses. I pro-
pose to give you that salary from this time forth. So you must tell
me your dreams."

" I can spit and hit the crack and step over it every time ;
I did so to-day ; that is the reason why you are now making me this
fine unsolicited offer. But I do not know so much about dreaming
to order, at least a ready-made fit."

As Millyard stood, en the platform of the railway coach and
the train moved away, he cried :

" Galen, don't forget to dream."

Dalgal turned away, muttering to himself :

" How is a man to set about to not forget to dream ? "

^-^-

238 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XL.

A LIFE-EATING CANKER. '

Mr. Alpha Millyard had been in Atlanta only a few months at
a time on only a few occasions since the autumn of the year just
after the termination of the civil war. He was reared in that city,
arriving at young manhood, but yet in the teens, during the preva-
lence of the fortunate or unfortunate internecine strife. He was
now on a visit to his widowed Confederate mother.

Strange how some who wore the secession cockade and could
whip the North in six months remained at home and then fought
the war over again in the newspapers and " on the stump " and in
the halls during the remaining dark-sorceried sixties and the whole
of the Black Friday seventies. Still, there is an eternal fitness in
things and events. The scourging of the South will make it event-
ually the top rung in the heaven-reaching ladder long before the
sun of Austerlitz or Bunker Hill, Yorktown or Appomattox sets
on America as sure as the fate of the Pleiades depends on the as-
cendency of the sun over Leon. Its awakening needs but the hour
and the man.

O, America ! listen to the protean sounds of the Divinity that
stirs within you. Mark the spots that beset thee and draw thy
circle round them. Otherwise thou wilt fail ! Yea. thou wilt turm
ble of thyself, thine own weight, if thou heed'st not. Thou art
froward in thy dealings with thyself.

Alpha, strange to relate, unless it was because his father had
been a Union man, although a rabid democrat, was a republican in
politics.

Astonishing are the ma-tings, governed as they are by the bent
of the mind, these affairs of love and politics.

Mr. Millyard finding himself possessed of a kindly disposition
through the indulgence of an over-indulgent but very solicitous
father and the ready yielding of a saintly mother, strangely and
summarily disposed of his mother's hopes for him in the future

A Life-Eating Canker. 239

by renouncing a course in a theological school and waywardly en-
tering the domain of law as a pupil in the establishment of a pair
of well-known and successful practitioners at the bar. Thus it
came about that after his admission to the bar he domiciled him-
self, a raw recruit, as an advocate and counselor-at-law before the
sometimes uncertain, worm-eaten bar of justice at Hickory and
one or two other places before landing in New Orleans.

His mother and sister, Miss Cecelia, had not seen him in sev-
eral years, albeit correspondence between them was comparatively
regular.

Meeting him at the threshold of her humble cottage home his
mother threw her arms about his neck and cried in joy.

" Ah, my boy, Allie ! I knew you would come again some time.
I bless you for coming. You are the joy of my heart and I longed
to press you to it."

His mother had hardly done caressing him before the old serv-
ant woman, Peggy, the only one of the negroes of three who re-
mained with them after the war, came' wobbling on poky legs
through the hallway.

" Why, Aunt Peggy," exclaimed Alpha. ' Heaven's blessings
on you. You still here with mother and your dear Cecelia?
Where is Cecelia ? "

" She be here'n a minit, Mos Allie. You got ter be such a fine
looking gentleman. We'se all bin lookin' fer you two days. Here
comes Miss 'Celia now."

" There is my buddie ! " exclaimed Miss Cecelia, as she entered
the hall from the rear porch. She ran to him, adding: "Allie,
dear buddie, I am so glad you've come."

They greeted each other with kisses and caresses. They all
went into the sitting-room, including Peggy, and entered into a
round of conversation concerning themselves.

Alpha, of co'urse, must needs explain all about himself ; what
had transpired in his life, what he was doing and what he in-
tended doing. All that his mother and his sister knew about him
or his business was that they had been receiving a hundred and
fifty dollars every month during the last five years and more,
which was occasionally accompanied by a short letter.

" Aunt Peggy, I want some of your make of coffee," said
Alpha ; " can you make me some immediately ? "

' Yes, chile, you shall have it right away." Out she went.

" Have you really become so vastly wealthy as I am led to imag-

240 The Lady of New Orleans.

ine by what you wrote us, Allie ? " inquired his mother. His sis-
ter and his mother always called him " Allie," a pet name in lieu
of Alpha.

" Well, mother, I can admit that I am really quite wealthy, but
I am growing- so much more wealthy every day than I was alto-
gether before that if it continues any reasonable length of time I
will be so wealthy I will be missing in my mind as to what dispo-
sition to make of it. I am led to believe that at present I am mak-
ing a fortune of over a million every day. I am in great hurry,
proceeding to New Orleans to take one of my own steamers for
France on business of importance."

' You will remain over with us to-night, won't you, buddie ? "
? ked Miss Cecelia, a beautiful brunette, who was now about
twenty-two years of age, and a charming, tender-mannered per-
son.

;' I guess so," he replied. " If I do I will remain until after-
noon. I want you and mother to tell me something of yourselves.
Whom are you to marry? " addressing his sister.

' My suitors are all poor, like ourselves," replied Cecelia, " but
being of our circle are elegant gentlemen, as far as I have been
able to ascertain. Still, I have not made up my mind and am not
trying to do so."

" That is right, my dear sister. Do not marry any man unless
you love him and are reasonably sure that he loves you."

Aunt Pegg, as Mr. Millyard delighted to call the good old faith-
ful colored woman servant, announced the readiness of some hot
coffee in the dining-room. Thither he repaired with his mother
and sister.

" Buddie, what was that terrible ordeal you experienced in New
York about which you intimated something in two of your let-
ters ? " inquired Cecelia in her soft, well modulated voice. She
was a woman well poised in speech, with unaffected and very ten-
der manners like her mother, devoid of any symptom of boisterous
laughter or undue gesticulation, merely smiling, accompanied by a
merry little chuckle, when, and only when, occasion sanctioned
such.

' That, my dear sister, is a very delicate matter," Alpha re-
plied. " Still, while it has given me some concern in peace of
mind, it probably should not have done so. and I suppose you and
mother are entitled to my knowledge of the whole affair. My
letters have to some extent advised you of the terrible troubles I

A Life-Eating Canker. 241

had in New Orleans on account of a young woman who fell in
love with me, wherein I was accused of abducting her, and how
the dear darling woman who is now my wife came to my aid and
rescued me from a conspiracy that was basely foul. My wife was
very wealthy, but I have recently added an hundred-fold and more
to my fortune above what she voluntarily gave me. She had
placed me and our two children absolutely beyond ever being in
want of any of the necessaries of life, even of its pleasures. Yet,
by a singular and most extraordinary coincidence of events, inno-
cently brought about by myself, it developed publicly to me and to
our guests at a large reception and banquet held at our house,
which we gave to a large number of our set in New York society,
the best, that my wife is partly, though far removed, a negress."

" Buddie, I am astounded ! That is awful ! " interrupted Miss
Cecelia. " My nephew and my niece part negro ? That is terrible !
Do the people all know it, buddie? Is it generally known? "

"Alas! I -do not know," he sadly replied. '' Nothing is ever
said to me about it and never will be. People may talk about it
and I receive no intimations concerning it. Of course, it will have
more or less influence on the people to prejudice them against us
and against our children as they grow up. It will weigh against
their future marital mating and perchance their happiness, unless
under mercenary considerations it is rendered different."

" Did you know, my son, of her being partly a negress before
you married her? " inquired Mr. Millyard's mother.

" No, mother ; I cannot say that I did, nor that I did not," re-
sponded Alpha. He then went on and related the incidents about
Bertha Rosenstin and what she said about the octoroon on that
memorable Sunday morning. He added that he did not give cre-
dence to the statement of the woman about his wife being an oc-
toroon, or even a quadroon, for the simple reason that the girl was
insanely jealous. In conclusion of his statement, Alpha said :

" Mother, I am on the broad, open bosom of life ; life is a frail
affair ; it hangs on slender threads ; it is hazardous, positively
dangerous to swamp oneself in order to spite or satisfy others. A
man takes a wife for better or for worse. I do not believe he
can put her away, hardly even on Biblical grounds.

" I also believe that God intended and so created certain races

of people to be separate and that they should not intermarry.

Else why did He place the distinguishing marks upon them? But

suppose this : if having loved and married innocently I were so

16

242 The Lady of New Orleans.

displeased at the revelation of the fact that my wife is partly
negress that I desired to put her away, what would become of my
innocent children? Can I desert them? It is a fearful thought!
And a heavy responsibility hangs upon me to their mother, as
well as to them and to myself. The happiness of each is in-
volved in the mastery of the problem, and there is only one hon-
orable solution. Do as I have done; continue to love my wife and
stick to her until death us do part — a^ I promised."

" It makes my heart feel glad to hear you speak those noble
sentiments, my son," said his mother with emotion. " A mother
can never lose love by son like that."

" You make my heart feel proud, mother," with tears welling
in his eyes, said Mr. Millyard. ' Your kind approbation fills my
soul with joy." Then she hugged him.

" Buddie." said his sister, " why did she not inform you of the
taint in her blood before you were married? In that event, and
you condoned her, there could have been no fault to find by any-
one." It was clearlv evident to Alpha that Miss Cecelia was ill at
ease in mind about her tainted-blooded sister-in-law.

" Yes, but my dear sister, the past is gone ; change the subject.
Mother, I am prepared to buy or build you the finest house in the
city and furnish it accordingly. Can you favor me by making
known your choice of plans for one? "

"• Ah, Allie! I am not prepared to> accede to your generous
offer." replied his mother gently. " I am now too far advanced in
year? to make such a radical change in my environment. I have
my coterie of friends and acquaintances ; they are in this section
of" the city mostly, and they, with some few exceptions, are of the
humbler walks in life and live in cottage homes. They would nat-
urally, under force of circumstances, constituted as people are,
deem us elevated above and beyond their sphere, if not stuck up,
as some of our vajued acquaintances forcefully express the idea,
and alter their pleasant attitude toward us. I prefer our present
delightful environment among sweet, gentle-mannered people to a
mansion in the fashionable quarter, where we would have to
wedge our way into new, stiff, perhaps a boisterous, never-con-
tented sphere in life, and. perchance, meet with rebuffs from
some in the fashionable circle whom we could not look upon with
pride as our equals socially. If 'Celia should marry I would pre-
fer that she continue to reside with me. In that event I would
require a larger cottage, more room "

A Life- Eating Canker. 243

" Ah ! That's it," interposed Alpha. " I perceive. You shall
be accommodated in anything you wish. Would that I were sur-
rounded by such gentle, tender-mannered people. I could pursue
a refined literary course, which is so very much more congenial to
my liking than either law or being a preacher or any other kind of
business man. I see, mother, wherein your judgment is excellent.
It is the very proper thing to do — build a handsome, roomy cot-
tage on this very lot. Then you will continue in your unostenta-
tious, refined environment. You can then have your church so-
ciety meet with you every week and you can give them more pleas-
ant entertainment. What think you of that, sister?"

" It will be charming," she replied. " Of course, mother and
I will remain together whether I marry or not. We are insepar-
able, as for that matter, because we are so dependent upon each
other."

" I will proceed to town at once, seek an architect and ar-
range for a plan and specifications of a house in accordance with
your ideas," said Alpha, as he got up to leave. " I will place a
hundred thousand dollars in father's old friend's bank to your
credit subject to your check, and will buy some securities or prop-
erty down-town for you so that you can have an income of your
own. And, Cecelia, as for you, I will bring you a pass-book also
with a hundred thousand to your credit in the bank to do with as
you desire."

" Buddie, can you afford to give us so much? "

" Why, my sister, I could readily make it a million, but I do not
deem it necessary. This will be as much as you can manage for
the present. Please keep Pegg and be kind to her, furnish her
with good clothes and some fine dresses as long as she lives."

Mr. Millyard secured a leading architect, who accompanied him
to his mother's home and viewed the lot.

All the arrangements necessary for building a large brick house
immediately in the place of the frame cottage then standing on the
half-acre lot were completed.

The architect said the house would cost about thirty-five thou-
sand dollars. He would not estimate precisely until all the plans
and specifications were drawn. Alpha knew that meant nearer
fifty thousand. The architect was to attend to letting the con-
tracts and superintend the construction.

Mrs. Millyard and Cecelia secured board and lodging with a
.neighbor across the street pending the demolition of their sweet

244 The Lady of New Orleans.

old home and the construction of the new, which would require
three months at least, but they build there in a rush.

Having arranged everything in good business shape for his
mother and his sister the time for Alpha Millyard's departure
drew nigh. When Miss Cecelia had played on the piano and sang
a few songs he began to bid them good-bye. Clasping his mother
in his arms, hugging and kissing her, he said :

" Mother, I may never see you again; something warns me I
will not ; this then is probably our final parting. I trust you will
continue to kindly remember me in your prayers, as you ever have
done. Think of me as the boy you affectionately fondled on your
knees and on your breast, with kisses, the nature of which I then
did not know. I snail ever think of you in connection with the
event when your wayward boy shattered your hopes for a preacher
son by truantly turning lawyer. Good-bye, mother ; good-bye."

" Bless you, my noble son." she said. " My prayers are ever
with you, and may God be with you. Do not give yourself concern
about your not becoming a preacher ; it does not grieve me. I am
not disappointed in you. Good-bye ; but you must surely come and
see me again."

Alpha turned, and folding Cecelia in his arms, he said :

" And you, Cecelia, write me about yourself and mother ; keep
me ever informed about her. I wish you joy and happiness.
When you have become reconciled to my marriage and to my two
beautiful and gently-amiable children I want you, both of you, to
come and see them. I did think of having my family stop over
here some time and see you when we are passing. But I suppose
that will now be out of the question. If my wife knew of what
you have said it would break her heart. I hope, sister, you will
secure a good husband, one who is not tainted in any way. Good-
bye."

" O, buddie ! You are thinking worse of what I said than I
intended "

" Ah, sister," he interrupted, " however much it may be unde-
sirable by me, it nevertheless rankles."

" Please do not let it do so, buddie, on account of what I said,"
pleaded the sweet Cecelia, now all dejection. " I shall forever be
worried about it if you do. I did not mean it in the way in which
you view my remarks. I do wish to see your dear wife and darl-
ing children. Please bring tnem to see us as soon as our new
home is finished. We cannot leave here ourselves until then. You

A Life-Eating Canker. 245

have ever been so good and noble to mother and myself I hope
you will not now break my heart. I canno1- restrain my anguish
if you do not at once give me some attestation

" O, buddie, I renounce and take back all I said." She threw
her arms and weight o:. his shoulders and appeared to be weep-
ing.

" She did not mean it, Allie," gently and endearingly spoke his
saintly mother.

" 1 forgive you, sister; I forgive you. There," (he kissed her)
" be a good girl. Love mother, and love — me — some. I will
bring my family to see you when your house is finished. Good-
bye."

" Good-bye, Aunt Pegg. Remain with mother and sister as
long as you live. They will give you all you want. So will I."
He was gone.

246 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XLI.

HOW THE GEM WAS FORMED.

Alpha Millyard returned from Europe to New Orleans some
few days over seven weeks from the time of his departure and at
the end of two months was back at the mines accompanied by Air.
Dalgal. He found that the output of the mines had considerably
increased, additional men being employed, more new improved
machinery introduced. This was just at the time when great
strides in improvements in such machinery were being made.
Professor Wortman explained diat eh kept fully posted on such
matters.

" I informed you in my letters and cablegrams which, I hope,
you understood, what I did and what success I had," said Mill-
yard when they were seated in the office. " I had wonderful suc-
cess. I stimulated sales at least thirty per cent., besides increasing
the price ten per cent. Just as I wrote you, our agents say they
have been unable to supply the demand. They have orders for
the Hiddenite diamond far ahead. Many large dealers were im-
patient of their orders and asked that they be hurried. Especially
was this the case in Paris, Vienna and Berlin. Berlin is a splendid
market for them. I contracted with each of our agents, giving them
the exclusive agency for all our gems, and i made it a point that
they must take the others as well as the Hiddenite in their respec-
tive countries, ana they are to pav cash for them on delivery. We
can dispose of every gem as fast as we can send them."

" That is the kind of business I like," said Professor Wortman.
"I have been dreaming of just sucl a business all my life."

" O, no ! " exclaimed Millvard. " Some one else has been
dreaming about this business besides our friend Dalgal ! "

" I was going to ask you something about the conversat'on we
had last night," reminiscently began Dalgal dreamily addressing
himself to Millyard, " but I happened to remember that you were
not here last night."

How the Gem was Formed. 247

" That is splendid," eagerly exclaimed Millyard. " Let her
out, Galie. What was it? Tell me all about it, for I must know."

" Well," he began, " it was something you told me about your
selling out. You did not tell me the amount, but you said you
were about to sell for an enormous sum to a»syndicate. Don't you
remember telling me that? "

" Tell us what all I said about it," said Millyard, pleadingly.

" You went on to say that you had a talk with some bankers
and one of the largest dealers in gems and jewelry in Europe ;
that you gave one of the Rothschilds a Hiddenite diamond brooch
worth a hundred thousand dollars and that he was delighted with
it. You said the syndicate agreed to send an expert and two or
three of their confidential men over here to examine the property."

''' My gracious, Dalgal," exclaimed Millyard in excitement, as
he moved nearer in his chair, gesticulating; " now I know you are
a wizard dreamomaniac. I never told you any such thing ; but
the fact is, I did have a talk with some capitalists on the subject.
And I presented to my banker, not a Rothschild, but one of the
leading financiers of Paris, one of those hundred thousand dollar
brooches for his wife, and Baron de Rothschild was present, to-
gether with four other gentlemen, when we were talking about
my selling. But nothing was said about sending over an expert
or anyone."

" The coincidence of what Mr. Dalgal says and what you state,
Mr. Millyard," interposed Prof. Wortman, " justifies the conclu-
sion that there is some collusion. I mean no discourtesy, mind
you ; but I mean to convey the idea that there is a strong, and a
very strong, sympathetic mental chord between you two gentle-
men whereby the one can wish a thing to come to pass and the
other dreams that it has transpired ; or rather, has a private con-
versation with someone that it has or will transpire, when lo, and
behold ! the light of dawn proves it to be true. I wish to sav that,
while I know the people have a flippant way of calling him a
dreamomaniac there are many persons who are trying to imitate
him, and wishing and praying they may be able to do as he has
done. I am only sorry that Mr. Dalgal is displeased when he
is called a dreamomaniac."

" Oh, well," said Millyard with a wave of the hand ; " Mr.
Dalgal can very well afford to disregard them ; to pity them and
help them. He is able so to do."

"I am sorry, Mr. Millyard," said Professor, "but I have

248 The Lady of New Orleans.

planned for you to make a trip to Washington, Philadelphia and
New York."

" I presume I shall have to be obedient," responded Millyard.
" When am I to depart?"

" About day after to-morrow," he said. " I think I can have
everything ready by then. Meantime I am looking for some tele-
grams ; our messenger is over in Hickory waiting for them."

" I must return to Paris in three weeks," said Millyard re-
flectively.

" Ah, ha ! Going back to close the deal," interposed Dalgal,
who had been sitting half asleep.

' This trip will not require more than a week," said Professor
Wortman.

' Yes, Galie ; make a deal, if I can," added Millyard, flippantly.

Thereupon the Professor got up and going to the safe brought
forth a large bundle of papers and placed them on the table be-
fore Millyard.

" Here we have," he began, " a statement of the business show-
ing that we have in the aggregate, outside of that which is not
yet finished, over one hundred and twenty-five million dollars.
Here is sixty-one million dollars for you. I have already entered
it on the books. I have indorsed the checks on New York
and Boston and the foreign exchange to you ; and here is a divi-
dend receipt ready for your signature. Do you want any better
business? I don't see what you want to sell out for. If you sell
I shall sell also, and I wish you to include my interest." He was
cold and deliberate in his tone and action.

Mr. Millyard was absorbed in deep thought during a few mo-
ments with his left index finger and thumb clasping his under lip.
Suddenly looking up at Professor he said :

' Please give me a copy of that statement. Look here, Pro-
fessor! " he exclaimed in amazement; " you don't mean to tell me
you have actually got that much on hand for me ? "

" Sign the receipts, take your bills of exchange and checks and
see if you get the money on them. If you don't, come back."

Millyard looked slowly and contemplatively at the papers rep-
resenting money. Then he put down the amounts of each on
sheets of paper and added them. The aggregate was sixty-one
million and twenty-nine dollars. He so remarked, as he looked
at the receipts already made out.

How the Gem was Formed. 249

" Here you have it twenty-nine tents instead of twenty-nine
dollars."

" No, that means cents," replied Professor. " You look at the
Amsterdam exchange and you will see it the same way."

" Ah, I see," said Millyard. Reflecting a few moments he sud-
denly remarked : " You must be making more than two million
dollars a day? "

" Yes, we are; a little over, on the average," replied Professor.
" Some days we do not take out so much, other days once in a
while, — the output is very much more than two million, even
quite three million dollars in a day. And, just think of it, we are
not one-third into that mountain yet. Nor even into that hill
over there. It is that tremendous stream of water that eats down
the mountain which brings out the gems. That stream of water
just beats anything that was ever dreamed of. A thousand men
could not dig the earth like that stream of water, which washed
it out in a few hours. It is away ahead of its work all the time.
We cannot crowd men enough around to take up the gem-bearing
rocks and the dirt."

' Professor, how were these green diamonds formed inside the
rocks ? " inquired Millyard.

' Now, you want to get into deep water," said the old earth-
wise Professor. :i But you will pardon me for saying without
intending to be offensive : the hog will eat all day under a tree as
the apples fall and never look up to see where they come from.
I am glad you have asked this question. It enables me to il-
lustrate to you that this great find of earth's hidden treasure is not
general nor of a permanent nature. These beryls amid the gneiss
are all of a very peculiar formation and extraordinary in all their
phenomena. But this peculiar spodumene of the pyroxene fam-
ily was formed, not originally created, during a period subsequent
to the creation of the earth. Its component parts were in solu-
tion in highly acidic and heated waters and under certain other
peculiar and unusual chemical conditions. Of the nature of that
I could not now enter into detail. But that much I do know ;
at least I know it as much so as science and personal investiga-
tion can develop.

" However, there is another theory advanced as to the forma-
tion of this silicated diamond. It is this : the little green beryl
formed and grew in the centrifugal whirl of water probably
highly acidic and heated as it rushed in a torrent over a cataract

250 The Lady of New Orleans.

into some mineralized, as before intimated, probably monazite
bottomed, pool or pond in the stream. Atoms and particles ad-
hering in the centrifugal, foamy eddy, after a certain stage sank,
from their own weight, and there at the bottom of the stream
gradually grew while being tossed and tumbled until stones the
size as you see them were formed around the berylized green gem
in or about the center of the stone. At the time of the subsidence
of our, or Noah's flood, the course of the stream was changed, and
the stones were left in the former canyon or cataract of the
stream here in the hill beside this little creek. The one river
that ran in its course along here is now two rivers, the Yadkin
over here and the Catawba over there. Curious, ain't it? "

" Yes, and deucedly interesting," replied Millyard, enthusias-
tcally. " There may not be another place like it in the world."

' If there is, it has never been discovered," the Professor re-
torted. " This place here, and the one over yonder, about five or
six miles, in this county, where the famous William Earl Hidden,
of New Jersey, who was sent out here by Thomas Edison, found
them, are the only places where they have been so far found in all
the world. Professor Hidden, as I understand, thinks as I do
about their formation. He claimed and proved that they are an
original silicate formation. South Africa, as a mineral deposit,
is a pigmy beside this place in value."

'It is impossible to imitate them then?" asked Millyard.

" That is exactly the case," responded Professor ; " and that is
the chief reason why they are so very valuable. To some extent
white diamonds can be imitated ; but this wonderful spodumene
from the gneiss can never in the least be imitated. Anyone will
fail absolutely in giving it the peculiar coloring as well as the
sparkling brilliancy and the characteristic pleochroism."

Mr. Millyard made the trip to the East; returned to the mines,
and then to New Orleans.

Jerushi Turns Up. 251

CHAPTER XLII.

JERUSHI TURNS UP.

No person took more delight in Mr. Millyard's extraordinary
and unexcelled success than Mr. Mike Delarue.

" Alpha," he said, " I am so elated and proud of your success
that I do not know how to express myself."

" I appreciate it, Mike," replied Millyard, in the president's
office in the bank. " Professor Alfred Wortman, Mr. Galen Dal-
gal and yourself are the only persons beside my wife who know
of it. I request that you please say nothing about it to anyone.
It has come to me so suddenly and quietly that it is even unsus-
pected by any other person. Above all things else I want it
kept out of the newspapers. If it is ever published I will be made
a target. I shall make my investments quietly without exciting
suspicion as to my wealth. My wife will attend to the charity
here in New Orleans, as she has ever been doing, and in which
she takes such delight.

' Mike," he continued, " I have twenty-one million and more in
exchange. I left nest eggs of a little over thirty-five million dol-
lars scattered among the banks in New York city and in the U. S.
Treasury. I want you to collect the items with the premium
on each and take care of the cash here in the bank for me. You
can use two million of it in the bank, which I will not check
against, at least without sufficient notice. The balance of it is for
my private account and not to be used by the bank ; I may check
out large sums at any time after the next three weeks. I must go
to Europe again in a few days. But I have money at my bank in
Paris, and at Havre with the steamship company."

Mr. Delarue called the cashier and explained to him Millyard's
wishes. Then the checks and bills of exchange were gone over
by them. After which the receiving teller of the bank was called
and he went over the items. The sum of $21,743,852.71 was en-

252 The Lady of New Orleans.

tered on the books of the bank to the credit of Alpha Millyard,
and also put down in his pass book.

President Delarue heaved a sigh, rubbed his hands and slapped
his knees, saying:

Wh-e-e-p ! I never expected to see a deposit like that in this
bank, nor hear of its being the case in this city. But I am glad,
gentlemen, it is by our boss and in our bank. I have now to re-
quest of you both, and Mr. Varnelle, (he was the cashier) you
must so notify the individual book-keeper, not one word must be
said to any person by any of you about this deposit. Mr. Mill-
yard here can inform you that your situations in this bank will
depend upon it."

" I should be very happy to be able to inform some of our cus-
tomers," quickly said Mr. Emile Varnelle, " especially some of
my competitor cashiers ; but my fealty to my chief officer and es-
pecially to the rules of banking prevents me from saying one
word about it. I shall take pains in this special case to discover
if there is any infraction of the banking rules in this respect."

The Professor telegraphed for Millyard. He wanted him to
go to Philadelphia and New York at once on important matters.
Hence Millyard decided to sail from New York for Europe in-
stead of New Orleans. Consequently at the end of a week he
was back at the mines in Alexander.

Meantime, a son of the man from whom Judge Selia had pur-
chased the land had brought suit to recover the land on the
grounds that he had a reversionary as well as hereditary interest.

Any person can bring an action at law for anything, in the
United States. The more absurd the claims the less attention
the defendant gives to them. Consequently it often happens that
by a technicality in the law and the underhanded subterfuges re-
sorted to by shyster lawyers, whose impecuniosity leads them to
brazen acts of audacity and shady pleadings as well as the manner
of filing them, Decrees and Orders are given and made by
dyspeptic, half sick or hemorrhoidical judges just to curry favor,
or to get the matter out of their further consideration the easiest
way possible.

But, being a lawyer, Millyard said this matter must be attended
to at once and before he left the place.

The plaintiff and his lawyer were dispatched for immediately.
They were at the mines two days afterwards, accompanied by
the father of the plaintiff. Millyard had read a copy of the com-

Jerushi Turns Up. 253

plaint. He listened in patience to what the young man and his
lawyer both had to say. He asked the father of the boy, the
original vendor, what he had to say. Bart Hallowell replied :

" I haven't got anything to say ; 'ceptin' this : I sold the land
and give my warrantee deed too it, which my ole woman signed.
That's as much as I could do, an' all I k'n do."

" Who else is there in the family that has, or can have, any
claim on this property?" asked Millyard in quick speech.

" None but my sister, who's married," answered the plaintiff.

" Look here, young man, and you as his lawyer," said Mill-
yard ; " I have only one proposition to make and that is this : I
do not recognize your claim, there is nothing in it ; but, I will make
you a present of five hundred dollars, provided, you will have
your married sister and her husband sign with you a quit claim
deed to me, and that you also have all other possible claimants
sign with you, and you all give me your affidavits that there are no
other claimants. That is all that i will do. You can walk out
there and consult about the matter and let me know at once what
you will do. My time is precious. I must leave here this after-
noon. If vou do not accept my offer I want to instruct my lawyer
what to do."

In about fifteen minutes they all filed back into the large hall
of the castle where Millyard, Prof. Wortman and Dalgal were
seated, and the lawyer speaking for them, said :

" They have agreed to accept your proposal. I will see that they
comply with it and that the proper entries are made at the next
term of our superior court."

' Very good," replied Millyard. ' Mr. Dalgal, you can see that
the papers are properly drawn and executed. When this is done
Professor Wortman will pay the money. It is a gift from
me.

When they had departed Millyard walked out to the mines. In
going the rounds who should he chance to meet face to face in the
person of one of the employes but the red-headed Jew-Irishman,
Mr. Miles Jerushi. The surprise was startling on the part of both
persons.

" Jerushi ! " exclaimed Millyard. People do have such a
strange and altogether unaccountable way of accidentally meeting
in strange places in America. A man here to-day who was far
away yesterday.

" Mr. Millyard, my top-notch, cock o' the walk lawyer, by all

254 The Lady of New Orleans.

the Saints, the blessed Virgin and the holy Moses ! " Miles was the
same old Jerushi.

The two men shook hands eagerly and made their explanations
as briefly and hurriedly as they could.

" So you're the head owner of this millionaire business?" If I
iver ! I'm blest, if I ain't glad of it."

' Yes, I have had a large interest here three or four years, but
now I own all, except a certain portion of the proceeds."'

I have been here nine or ten months now and I've made a right
good thing uv it. I made good wagis and I laid away me monev.
You see, I can't git a drap o' the creeter in here. So I stay in and
plant me money in me chist."

' The Jew in you is coming out on top," said Millyard, smiling.

" Yes, egad ! and I believe the Jew's the best part,' if me mither
is the best man er the two," retorted Miles, wiping some of the soil
off his red freckled face with a soiled 'kerchief. " Now since I
know ye're the boss man here, I want to tell ye something kinder
confidentially There's a blabberin' furiner here who's tryin' to git
up a strike 'mongst the men. Don't give me way, but you go and
inquire 'mongst the bosses."

" Miles, I always knew there was something good in you. I
am greatly obliged to you for this information. I will inquire into
it at once," replied Millyard as he began moving awav, adding:
" When are you coming to New Orleans ? When you clo, be sure
and come see me."

" I'll be after doin' that very thing, sir," answered Miles. " I
may come in a few months, and I'll come to see ye ter once fer
sure."

Millyard returned to the log castle. He called Professor and
said :

" I heard intimations just now that sound to me like there is to
be a strike here. Do you know anything about it ? "

*' Not in the least. I am at the first of it," he replied, as if as-
tonished. " I will summon the superintendent at once."

A boy was called and dispatched on the errand. In about five
minutes the superintendent presented himself before Professor
Wortman and Mr. Millyard.

:' Have you heard anything about a strike among the men ? "
asked Professor Wortman.

" Well, yes," was the hesitating reply, " but there has not yet
been enough indication for me to seriously consider the matter. I

Jerushi Turns Up. 255

am astonished that you should have heard of it. I thought I was
keeping very close watch for such a demonstration and could tell
you first."

" I must confess I did not know anything about it until Mr.
Millyard informed me a few minutes ago," said the Professor.
" What do you know about it? "

" There is one certain man here," the superintendent replied;
" he is not a nat or yap, (meaning he was neither a ' nat,' a native
or naturalized citizen of this country, nor 'yap,' a local native),
who has been trying to foment trouble for some time past. His
name is Barfuldst. I think he is trying to get the washers to
strike for higher wages. If he succeeds then he will try to get a
general strike. The washers are making three and a half a day
and he is getting four a day. I have been considering how we can
get rid of him ; he is a perfect nuisance. If we do not get rid of
him at once he will cause us serious trouble."

" I am very glad this matter has come to light while I am here,"
said Millyard. " Professor, send for the man and his boss and let
them both come here at once. You remain, Mr. Superintendent,
until they come. I want you to hear what they have to say."

The seditious miner and his boss were conducted before Mr.
Millyard, who asked :

" Well, my dear sir, in what capacity are you working here? ':

" I'ze vashin' ender tailin's," he answered.

" Are you dissatisfied with your job? " asked Millyard.

" No, sir ; not in der light vot you seem ter tink I vas. I haf
my idees, of course," he said.

" You do not know in what light I think ; I have never inti-
mated it. Do your ' idees ' conflict with the manner or methods in
which this business is being conducted ? " asked Millyard, sternly.

" Der vas some disbarities, ant ven ve all dalked erbout it an'
der mens told me I vas der man vot should tell'd 'em vot ter do, I
told 'em I vould do it. 'Cause you see, I vas had more exberience
in does tings dan vot dev haf."

" Is it your idea that the men should band themselves in an or-
ganization, then strike?" queried Millyard. "Then all hands
remain here and allow no one else to come and work in their
places? Assume a high-handed law unto themselves against the
rights of other men? "

" Vel, dot vos von vay, ef der Perfesser don't do vot dey vants."

" Is there another wav, one with right on its side ? "

256 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Not yit ; unless ve could all git tergedder."
" How would you git togedder ? "
Ve could organize an' 'lect our officers, den ve could do some-

tmgs."

" What would you do? " asked Millyard.

" Dat vas as I say, ef he don't do sometings."
' Increase your wages? Or give you another job? "

" Yes. Dey vould liice ter haf bote."

" I think I understand you, to some extent at least. Probably
you want your picture in the papers? I suppose you are to be
the head officer. I want to leave here this afternoon for Philadel-
phia ; I need a man to go with me , I will pay the expenses. Can
you go with me ? "

" Yes ; I haf a cousin in Philadelphee, unt I vould be glad mit
der chance ter go mit cher."

" All right," said Millyard; " go get ready, quick. I want you
to take a telegram over to Hickory immediately. Professor, send
him over at once."

When the boss and the would-be boss of a strike were gone the
superintendent ventured to remark :

" Well, if that ain't the easiest and most satisfactorily settled
strike I ever saw ! "

1 Yes ; he jumped right into it," added Professor Wormian.
" With him out of the way will we have any more trouble? "

' Not in the least," responded the superintendent. " He is the
head and front of the whole trouble."

" I can leave him in Philadelphia," said Millyard. " You go
and keep right along with him and hurry him in packing his
things, so he cannot talk with any of the men. Make out his ac-
count and pay him."

Mr. Millyard did not deem it necessary to explain how he
learned about the brewing strike, only he requested Professor
Wortman to have Miles Jerushi favored as much as could be done
consistently, as his special friend.

" There is no such man by that name here," said Professor
Wortman. Then he looked at the books and could not find the
name there.

When the boss striker struck out for Hickory Professor Wort-
man told him he would send his luggage over on the hack.

After dinner Mr. Millyard departed, accompanied to Hickory by
Mr. Dalgal, his lawyer and his friend, who provided the convey-
ance. He was bound for Paris via New York and Havre.

That Awful, Terrible Crime. 257

CHAPTER XLIII.

THAT AWFUL, TERRIBLE CRIME.

Loveliness in all its real and beatific fancied form enshrined
and entwined the souls and hearts, thoughts and acts each to the
other, also to their friends and acquaintances and all others under
whose notice they passed, even as a gossamer cloud in warm
weather, of the endeared twain, mother and daughter, Mrs. Mill-
yard and Miss Cecelia Millyard, the mother and sister of Mr.
Alpha Millyard.

No two souls ever dwelt together in unison, more closely in
beauty of picture and loveliness of affectionate devotion and ten-
der attachment than those two saintly women. The pleasure of
the one was to do something for the pleasure of the other. They
shed their beams abroad and infected the very air around them,
like an American gentleman or an American lady, they, not their
counterpart, in Europe, exhaling the perfumes of heaven and the
civilizing essence of man in the atmosphere of their circle. Only
such people in America as Miss Cecelia and her mother never
visit Europe. They must be seen at home.

The building of their new home progressed more expeditiously
than they contemplated. Under the magic wand of Alpha Mill-
yard's private instructions to the wide-awake up-to-date architect,
contractors were secured who performed their work in less than
the allotted space of time.

Mrs. Millyard and Miss Cecelia had given up the idea of keep-
ing informed about the plans of the work. There were many inno-
vations, many of them of a costly nature, vastly so, and when
they expostulated with the contractors and architect they replied
to them that Mr. Millyard was responsible for it. Finding that
Alpha was having his own sweet will about the building of the
house they ceased to give it their concern.

" Mother," said Miss Cecelia one day, " it seems that buddie
J7

258 The Lady of New Orleans.

is trying to please us by pleasing himself ; so we need not inter-
fere or bother ourselves with it any further. He is such a noble
brother and good son that he wishes us to have a sumptuous home
for you in your old age."

" Yes," replied Mrs. Millyard, " Allie is a noble man and a
dutiful son. He reminds me more and more of his dear, noble
father. I shall acquiesce in whatever he does. To do otherwise
would cause him to suspect that he had displeased me, both of
us. I would not have him think that I am displeased with him.
He would grieve about it and that would react on me. I am very
certain he will not displease me purposely and I could not be dis-
pleased with him, especially because of his doing an unnecessary
thing, such as building me a more gorgeous house than I prefer,
and more especially since he possesses such enormous wealth,
sufficient to justify him in doing so."

" Mother, does buddie perceive things in their higher and truly
exalted sphere?" inquired Miss Cecelia of her mother as they
were about separating on the front porch.

" That is a matter, daughter, you should know for yourself. I
believe, in fact, I know, he does. It is in that realm he lives and
has his thoughts. He ever did from childhood. That is why I
thought he should become a theologian and preach the gospel.
You said you loved him ; can you love one, even a brother, whom
you do not believe to live and has his thoughts in a high and truly
exalted sphere ? "

" No, mother; I cannot say that I could."

" No ; you would have doubts, misgivings, fears and apprehen-
sions for the worst."

Between one and two fortnights after this Mrs. Millyard and
Miss Cecelia visited a cousin of Mrs. Millyard, Mr. Glaucus Bad-
ger and his family, who resided in the country in another but
near-by county. The two families had often exchanged visits.

Mrs. Millyard and Miss Cecelia had many friends among the
neighbors of their cousin, Glaucus Badger, and frequently visited
among them. Mrs. Millyard's mother, who was quite a belle and
celebrated for her beauty, charming manners and brilliancy of
mind before the greatest of all unfriendly conflicts, had a
brougham, or carriage, and horses with a coachman ever at her
command. But at this period and on this occasion circumstances
with Mrs. Millyard were different. With Mr. Badger each horse
or mule had to contribute its share of work to the support of

That Awful, Terrible Crime. 259

itself and its owner, and the coachman had to plow or more fre-
quently loitered in town.

It was the custom among the people to walk when visiting each
other where the distance was not considerable. Also to take ad-
vantage of the near cuts, the paths through the woods and around
the fields. Near neighbors with only a mile or two separating them
of course walked, lut they would start early in the morning, take
dinner with their friends and return late in the afternoon.

This was the case with Mrs. Millv£.~d and Miss Cecelia one
day when they visited a dear friend, Mrs. George Sallust, and
her two charming daughters, who resided about a mile and a
fourth from the home of Mr. Glaucus Badger. They walked
over to Mrs. Sallust's early in the morning and spent the day
very delightfully.

Their memories of the past and of people were charmingly dis-
cussed.

Late in the afternoon the two very interesting Misses Sallust
accompanied Mrs. Millyard and Miss Cecelia along the path
through a clump of woods until they arrived at the corner of a
field where there was a wagon road on the upper side of the
field, when they parted with mutual salutations and expressions
of their pleasure in meeting and regret at having to part.

The Misses Sallust merrily sang in voice that was loud and
which resounded melodiously through the woods as gayly they
homeward skipped — as the sun set in lurid splendor.

Mrs. Millyard and Miss Cecelia slowly, with hearts beating
lightly, wended their way along the old seldom-used road. At
the other corner of the field, half a mile from Mr. Sallust's and
nearly a mile from their cousin Glaucus Badger's home, they
left the old grass-grown road and took a path through the woods.
The sun, which had shone so gloriously the day, had hid its face
from their eager, watching sight down in the earth below the
trees with only the shimmering sheen to be seen.

They had not proceeded far into the woods when suddenly a
mulatto sprang in the path directly in front of them. He was
quick and excited in his motion.

In another moment a coal black negro rushed from the bushes
at their side.

The frail, defenseless women were frightened to almost stupe-
faction. This was superinduced from a knowledge of the fast-
growing, almost inevitable result of such conduct. Their fright,

260 The Lady of New Orleans.

therefore, was of that nature which stupefies defenseless women,
especially ladies of refinement and under such conditions.

They grasped each other, screamed and then swooned.

The black ruffian, a muscular, greasy-skinned, lantern- jawed,
white eye-balled, black-puniled, grim-visaged fellow, apparently
about thirty years of age, grasped Miss Cecelia in his arms and
bore her apart. At the same time the other negro, a bold, freckled-
faced mulatto, wall-eyed and with scowling features and appar-
ently about twenty-seven years of age, clutched Mrs. Millyard,
and, jerking her to one side of f j path, cried :

" Holler ag'in an' I'll kill you ! "

"Demon, you shall not," screamed Mrs. Millyard as loud as
she could, her strength and courage evidently returning, as she
resisted and attempted to rush to the rescue of her daughter, who
was listless.

The mixed-breeded negro, with all the attributes and instincts
of the more uncivilized slayer of men, his eyes now gleaming in
fiery, orange-tinted hue, clutched his right hand on the left side
of the throat of the poor woman and slapped her severely on the
right cheek with his left open hand; she uttered not a sound, she
was dazed. The brute then jerked her sprawling, her body strik-
ing against a sapling tree, then she fell to the ground.

Miss Cecelia was as limp as she would have been if asleep.

The black negro fiend dragged her into the bushes not far from

the path, where she immediately began to revive and moaned

for her mother, occasionally saying in low, faint voice :

"Allie, Allie! Buddie, why don't you come?"
******

When dark came and Mrs. Millyard and Miss Cecelia had not
returned, Mr. Glaucus Badger, becoming uneasy about their
undue absence, hitched a horse to his surrev and drove as quickly
as possible to the home of Mr. George Sallust.

Mr. Sallust and his family were amazed. The circumstances
of the two Misses Sallust accomoanving the two ladies to the
corner of the field were quickly related.

Leaving his surrey, as it could not be taken over the path, Mr.
Badger, accompanied by Mr. Sallust. two or three children and a
couple of stout farm hands, with pine torches, set out on the path
taken by the ladies.

Arriving at the spot where the ladies were assaulted the at-
tention oAhe rescuers was attracted by low moans of a female

That Awful, Terrible Crime. 2(.t

voice issuing from the woods at a point about one hundred feet
or more from the path. Quickly with their torchlights the party
rushed to the spot.

There they beheld, first, Mrs. Millyard, her classic, interesting
features transformed into pallid, haggard visage, with wild, star-
ing eyes. She was wailing and moaning as she bent over the
prostrate form of her only daughter.

Mrs. Millyard was insane.

Miss Cecelia was unconscious. Their dresses were torn, their
tresses were disheveled, their faces and bodies were scratched,
and they had been bleeding.

Information was dispatched by messengers to the neighbors at
once and a man was sent for Mr. Badger's bloodhounds.

Mrs. Millyard, still raving in madness and clinging to her
daughter, was, with Miss Cecelia, conveyed to the home of Mr.
George Sallust. The news spread fast ; the people gathered
quickly.

The sad plight of the two unfortunate ladies was appalling.
Women and children were weeping and wailing. Some of the
men were weepin«", too, as for that matter.

The frenzied men, increasing in numbers every minute, swore
aloud and vowed to hove vengeance before another sun had set in
peace from over their perturbed heads.

The acme was reached. The die was cast.

The voice of the people was the voice of God, and the culprits
must needs suffer the penaltv of death according to the law of
nature, if not the law of God, in a most summary manner.

The bloodhounds were brought to the place where the outrage
occurred and readily took the trail, dividing themselves, the one
part following howling and yelping in one direction, while the
other smaller portion took a direction at a right angle from the
other squad.

The howling hounds made the welkin ring in the fore-midnight
air, and each came upon its prey before the fastest clock could
strike the hour of ten. Pine torches lit the woods, swamps and
fields for miles around like Chinese lanterns at a fete cliampctrc,
or electric lights at a lawn party in a suburban villa.

One pack of hounds and their followers traced the freckled-
faced, yellow-tinted negro to a bog in a forest of small deciduous
and lambai growth, where the culprit, no doubt, thought himself
secure, but where he was captured and firmly tied with ropes.

262 The Lady of New Orleans.

This part of the fast-approaching midnight performance hav-
ing arrived at its fruition, the semi-paralyzed, yellow-tinted
negro was brought forth from the dungeon-like jungle and made
to answer questions.

Among other things he confessed and which no doubt was the
chief incentive of his making the confession, was the declaration
that he was to have taken the young lady, or girl, as he expressed
it, and the other negro, the black one, George Monroe by name,
was to take the other lady, but George Monroe took advantage
of him.

He told the whole circumstances of the affair. How they were
passing and talked with a young negro boy, who had been at
work in the field, who told them of the fact that the ladies were
at the house and would pass that way late in the afternoon as
they were on their route returning to Mr. Badger's.

The yellow negro was then taken to the home of Mr. Sallust
and brought before the victims.

Miss Cecelia was lying on a couch in the front and most open
room in the house where she could get fresh air, and her mother
was held at her bedside, held because she persisted in desiring to
throw herself across the bosom and face of her daughter. Thus
they were when the mulatto villain, who had not given his name,
was brought before them for recognition. As the stalwart Glau-
cus Badger marched the negro before Mrs. Millyard she raised
her head from beside that of her daughter, and, ceasing wailing,
glanced her tear-dimmed eyes for a moment at the brute. Then
she shrieked :

"The villain! Take him away! Take him .way! He is the
villainous wretch who fouled me ! "

As the men who had hold of the yellow, freckled-faced fiend
conducted him out at the front door some one grabbed a long-
handled spade that was on the porch and dealt the brute a blow
with the blade of the spade on the side of the face. This was the
signal for a general onslaught upon the miserable wretcn to take
his life.

There was a sturdier man at the helm, however, than the ruth-
less but righteously indignant fellow who smote the brute with
the spade. Glaucus Badger cried out to stay such action just in
time to allay the frenzied men who were scrambling to seize the
culprit and wrench his body to pieces.

" Wait, men, wait until we get the other villain. Do not lynch

That Awful, Terrible Crime. 263

him in the presence of ladies. Take them both to the scene of
the crime." This timely admonition prevailed.

Meantime the negro was subjected to quite rough treatment.
J\o person present had any sympathy for him. A sympathizer
would have had the curse of those men on him.

Glaucus Badger and George Sallust, both, had often declared
publicly to many persons together and apart, that lynching is a
crime and that they would never be guilty of assisting at a lynch-
ing or countenance one. Glaucus Badger had even said emphat-
ically that he would go before the grand jury and present any
man or men whom he might know of assisting in a lynching.
George Sallust had spoken in terms nearly as strong. The people
seemed to coincide with them. It is doubtful if there was a man
in all that section of country who believed in lynching. But on
the contrary, every one of them was opposed to it. However,
the scene before .hei~ eyes had wrought these men up to such a
frenzy of feeling that reason was dethroned, blood boiled hot and
all thought of former protestation or professions of opinion on the
subject had Laken flight, pinioned on the swift wings of anger,
which demanded immediate retribution.

Sayest thou, why not be calm and permit the law to take its
course? There is a deep-seated reason. A reason as calm and
philosophic in its nature as that by which every one justifies
himself in not obeying the Scriptural command that, " Whoso-
ever shall smite thee on thy right cheek turn to him the other
also."

Yet there is a reason still more deep and clear. It is this
reason which takes the law unto itself. Are all men perfect?
Are all men's imperfections known ? In any State, anywhere,
under the law and system of obtaining juries, can twelve per-
fect men, good and true, be had as jurymen on a trial for lynch-
ing? This was not all: i. e., in explanation of the reasons: the
culprits knew the punishment. Divine thou the balance and
know then the balance of the reasons for lynchings.

The bloodhounds trailed the other negro, George Monroe,
about six miles, when he was brought to bay in a stable-loft. He
was soon brought out and securelv bound, hands and feet, with
rope plow-lines, his hands behind him. He was then placed
across the pommel of a saddle on a swift horse in front of a stal-
wart rider and they galloned to the home of George Sallust.
Other riders accompanied them, while those afoot took the near

264 The Lady of New Orleans.

cuts and ran as swiftly as they could to be in at the end of the
chase, as it were.

The time-honored custom of confronting the two culprits be-
fore each other, when there are two or more and one has con-
fessed, was duly complied with. The freckled-faced, copper-
colored negro stated that George Monroe, the man before him,
was the one who was with him and who assaulted Miss Cecelia,
or, rather, " the girl," as he expressed it.

George Monroe flatly denied the accusation or assertion and
affirmed that he did not know the mulatto who was thus implicat-
ing him in such a heinously serious crime. Monroe, not denying
his name, said he happened to be passing along the road when the
dogs came running in sight of him and he ran to keep them from
catching him by mistake. He said the dogs turned from their
course to take after him and then he ran the faster. He didn't
know what they were after him for.

The repulsive-looking negro protested his innocence so vehe-
mently the men decided to take him before his victims for identi-
fication. In the glare of an hundred and fifty or more large
torchlights, made of rich pine, held high over the side of the
heads of the bearers, and a half dozen or more oil lanterns, the
men on foot and horseback surrounding the two doomed negroes,
both being now tied together, one behind the other and each with
two ropes, one on each side, tied around their necks and held by
four men riding at their sides, with others in front and rear, the
solemn procession thus formed marched from the place where
they were, the scene of the crime, to the home of Mr. Sallust,
where the victims were notified by a messenger swift on horse of
their coming and the purpose.

As soon as her attention could be diverted from her daughter
and she cast her eyes on the two negroes, Mrs. Millyard, point-
ing to George Monroe and glaring at him fiercely, exclaimed :

" That is the fiend ; you have them both. They two are the
foul fiends ! "

" That is sufficient, gentlemen," commanded Glaucus Badger.
" Take them back to the scene of the crime."

The men in charge of the negroes marched them out of the
bouse.

Mrs. Millyard moaned a fearfully dismal moan. Swaying her
bodv to and fro while being held in restraint by kind friends to
prevent her from falling on Miss Cecelia, she cried :

That Awful, Terrible Crime. 265

" God be merciful to my poor daughter and avenge, as ven-
geance is Thine, her terrible outrage ! O, God, restore her to
me again ! "

The poor woman seemed not to think of herself. All her ex-
pressions were for her daughter.

Presently, for the first time, Miss Cecelia began to move volun-
tarily. With much anxiety and earnest feeling the physicians,
ladies, old ladies, young ladies and girls, a large number being
present, peered with joy at the evidence of returning sensibility.

Some of them spoke to her in endearing words and tones.
Others soothed her brow with gentle smoothings of their hands,
while one of the doctors placed camphor to her nostrils. Directly
her eyes began to move, then the lids opened. Her beautiful, but
now lustreless eyes peered about for a few seconds, when she
asked :

" Where am I ? Is buddie here? "

In the absence of a father or a husband a brother should protect
his sister.

' You are at Mrs. Sallust's. Here is Jennie ; don't you know
her ? " said a lady who made way for Miss Jennie Sallust at the
bedside.

" Jennie? " feebly spoke Miss Cecelia. " O, yes, Jennie; where
is that horrible black demon ? "

' The men have him safe ; they carried him away," quickly
replied the doctor for fear answer might be made that would
unduly excite her nerves. . Then he soothingly spoke to her in
continuation until he administered a lotion.

When her daughter spoke Mrs. Millyard wept with joy; albeit,
scarce could she speak herself, though anon still raving.

Meantime the incident transpiring, as Mr. Badger said, " at the,
scene of the crime," was of a most lurid and thrilling char-
acter.

The scene was lighted by three hundred and more torches. The
night was dark and calm. No moon shed a pallid lustre on the
scene. Though not cold the air was crisp. The fearless, deter-
mined men proceeded with the lynching of the two negro men
as calmly and methodically as if they were slaughtering a bullock.

Nooses were made and the ropes were placed around their
necks in a manner exactly alike. The underbrush was cleared
away from under the limb of a large white oak tree close beside
the path. A table being provided, it was placed under the limb.

266 The Lady of New Orleans.

The two men, their legs tied and their hands bound behind them,
were stood on the table and ordered to say one at a time all they
desired to state in reference to the crimes.

The black one, George Monroe, refused to make any other
statement only that the other " nigger " was " lyin' 'bout him."

The mulatto man said his name was Dennis Morris. He then
went on and made about the same statement he made previously,
declaring before God and those persons around him that the
other negro, George Monroe, led him into committing the crime
and that they were both guilty alike.

The two negroes were then told to say their pravers. It was
then the hour of midnight. George Monroe sullenly refused to
make any attempt at praying or to ask God to have mercy on his
soul. The mulatto, Dennis Morris, began mumbling a prayer,
at which instant every head in the vast assemblage was bowed
and nearly all were bared. The scene was impressive, profound.
A child could have swayed the mob to do anything but to desist
from its self-imposed task. Torture was not allowed.

When Dennis had finished his praver the two negroes were
made to stand with their backs to each other on the table. The
two ends of the ropes that were noosed round their necks were
thrown over the big limb of the tree and drawn up taut, then
wound round two saplings near-by at each side. The table was
supported by four or more stalwart men, who held it by the legs
and raised it, with the negroes on it, as high, from the ground as
they could reach. The table was suddenly and dexterously tossed
upward a little and jerked from under the culprits at the word
of command.

The bodies of the doomed men fell at least five feet, their feet
nearly reaching to the ground. The two negroes gurgled and their
bodies writhed as much as the ropes that "were tied" around their
legs and over their arms around their bodies would admit. The
dangling bodies' wriggled and squirmed during several minutes.
At length the writhings began to cease; finally only spasmodic
jerks and twitchings were observable.

In half an hour the black one was pronounced dead. In a few
minutes more the mulatto was also declared to be dead, both a
surgeon and a physician so pronouncing. But they were dead
long before.

The tragedy was over, finished, so far as those men were able
to atone by their lives. But their victims, what of them ?

That Awful, Terrible Crime. 267

The bodies were left swinging by the ropes to the limb of the
old oak tree.

Satisfied, frenzied desire appeased, relaxation of nerves taking
place, the men, after agreeing to meet there next morning to
bury the dead, heeded the request of Glaucus Badger to disperse
in peace and quietly go to their homes with a consciousness of
having done no wrong in the sight of God, whose agents they
were more than is the soldier in a battle or a sheriff at a hanging.

268 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XLIV.

THE CURSE OF THE REPUBLIC.

As Miss Cecelia revived her mother grew worse. The former
took some light nourishment and began to converse with those
persons whom she knew who were around her bed. Mrs. Mill-
yard became feverish and delirious. It grew apace with ad-
vancing dawn. It was with great difficulty that she was re-
strained from doing violence to herself and to those around her.

Just as the bright sun, which the evening before had left her
and her daughter so radiantly happy in its glorious setting,
gleamed its first rays into the silent chamber soon after Miss Ce-
celia had been quieted to slumber, and while the doctors and the
ladies dozed in chairs and on the sides of the two beds, for an-
other bed had been brought in the room for Miss Cecelia, Mrs.
Millyard, suddenly awakening, with a terrific scream, sprang
from the bed, exclaiming:

" You brute ! Fiend ! You shall not ! Turn me loose ! Turn
me loose, I say ! You villain ! Hold him, daughter ! Choke
him ! Allie, run to 'Celia ! "

Ladies grasped the unfortunate woman as quickly as possible.
Her shrieks aroused the whole household. Twenty or more men,
besides the large number of ladies, had remained at Mr. Sallust's
and were taking a final nap after daylight.

Mrs. Millyard in her frenzy and loss of reason attempted to
seize a chair, piteously screaming:

"How dare you, brute? O, spare my child, my daughter!
Spare her, spare her, please spare her." As the farmer ladies
were placing her on the bed again, weak and almost completely
exhausted, she continued :

" Choke him, daughter, choke him ! Allie is coming."

" My God, gentlemen ! I can't stand this," exclaimed the tall,
broad-shouldered, handsome, manly Glaucus Badger, as he stood

The Curse of the Republic. 269

in the center of the room and slammed his big felt hat in his left
hand with a crushing blow. " I feel like I could exterminate the
nigger in this country ! "

Continuous flash after flash of lightning and peal after peal of
roaring thunder rolling low over an assemblage of people in the
open air, while the earth quaked and trembled, could not have
produced a more profoundly thrilling, livid, quickening sensation
among them than did these few electrifying words of Glaucus
Badger have on those peoole there that morning. Perfect silence
prevailed in an instant. Faces were blanched to the pallid white-
ness of cotton. No one spoke or moved for near two minutes.
The awful stillness was painful. At length George Sallust broke
the spell by shouting:

" By the eternals ! I am with you ! " The last words were
spoken in thundering tones.

The doctors said Mrs. Millvard was a raving maniac and that
she was seriously ill, besides it was doubtful whether she would
live to be carried home.

Mr. Alpha Millvard was telegraphed for. But he was in Eu-
rope. The telegram to him at New Orleans was answered by
Mr. Mike Delarue, so stating.

The condition of Mrs. Millyard remained unchanged and pre-
carious during several days. The good people were very kind
in administering in everv needful way to all her wants and also
those of Miss Cecelia. The latter improved rapidly.

During a lucid spell Mrs. Millyard requested to be taken back
to Atlanta, her dear old home.

Consequently near the end of the second week from the time
of their dire misfortune, Mrs. Millyard and Miss Cecelia were
returned to Atlanta ; but, oh, how sadly different in their condi-
tion from what they were in happiness on the day when they de-
parted !

Neither of them could bestow any of their thoughts on their
new home. Mrs. Millyard was unable to do so because she had
no mind to bestow upon it. Miss Cecelia was unable to do so
for the reason that her mind was altogether centered upon her
mother. Her spirit and animation were only buoyed and sup-
ported by anxiety and hope about her mother. Betwixt hope
and fear the trembling scale the balance felt as up and down it
went.

For four days and nights longer did Mrs. Millyard rave and

270 The Lady of New Orleans.

wail, confined in her room, where they were boarding across the
street from their new home, which was now fast approaching
completion. Strong women were employed to guard Mrs. Mill-
yard to prevent her from doing violence to herself or to others.
She pined in great agony and distress.

At last her angel came. But how shockingly sad her sweet
life ended.

Mrs. Millyard had relaxed from a paroxysm of rage and mad-
ness and was peacefully resting on the bed, while the attendants,
worn out, exhausted by their labors during the last spell, just
before three in the morning by the clock, were momentarily rest-
ing and diverted in their attention from her, she suddenly plunged
on the floor from the bed and, quickly recovering herself, rushed
in a run to the rear window. Dashing through the sash head-
foremost, breaking the sash and the glass and gashing great rents
in her skin and flesh on the face, arms and hands, bleeding pro-
fusely and shrieking as loud as she could scream : " Choke him,
daughter ! Choke him ! Allie will come ! " she ran to the head
of the stairway leading down stairs to the back yard and, appar-
ently without noticing the steps, plunged down them face fore-
most, then tumbling over and over she went to the bottom.

When taken up it was found her neck was broken.

Appalling? The curse of God is upon the one or the other,
the negro or the white race with whom they are. Be it which
they are not destined to dwell together. Even if they do con-
tinue to have their habitations in the same country they will
never again dwell together in unity of peace and concord. The
bane, the curse of the South ? Yea !

Their being in it, like the fumes from a burning sulphuretted
morass, will spread over the whole broad land. Will that be to
the South a source of resurgation?

No people with manhood, intelligence and civilization, wealth
and refinement, like the people of the South, and with their an-
cestry, can be kept under the ban, and neither can they live and
prosper with a bar-sinister of race.

It were well for those who have an interest in the matter to
take heed and consider this aspect of the future while it were yet
not over-ripe for the wine-press.

Mrs. Millyard was laid away in Oakland Cemetery. The fu-
neral cortege was immense. Nearly all the old inhabitants and
hundreds of those good people who have, since the civil war,

The Curse of the Republic. 271

flocked to Atlanta from all sections of the United States and
from all over the world, attended the funeral.

It was a day of sadness and mourning for the whole city. The
awful circumstances of her sudden taking away elicited profound
sorrow among all classes of citizens.

Miss Cecelia was again prostrated. Her nervous system
showed symptoms of collapse and there was great uneasiness
about her condition and its final outcome during several days.

Finally, however, she rallied and was again improving under
the constant watchful care of her physician, Dr. Hood, and kind
friends.

272 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XLV

GRAND BONANZA SOLD.

When Mr. Millyard returned from Europe three expert geol-
ogists, a mineralogist and a confidential man of the house of
Rothschilds were with him. They went immediately from New
York to the mines. During four days these men were given the
freedom of the place, the confidential man having full access to the
books and the vault.

On the third night after their arrival, Mr. Millyard, Professor
Wortman and the gentlemen were seated on the broad veranda
in huge rustic rocking-chairs smoking North Carolina-made Ha-
vana cigars.

The confidential man of the Rothschilds became also some-
what so to Mr. Millyard. He remarked, partly in French :

" This is the most gigantic business I have ever known. You
are getting out a score of fortunes every day. I think I shall
have to cable my report at once so that if those people intend to
purchase they can do so immediately and by that means reap the
results which will in the meantime be yours. I wish to say this,
however, I am satisfied. Professor Wortman, if these parties
whom we represent should purchase these mines and take your
interest as well as that of Monsieur Millyard, they will do so
only provided you will remain and conduct the business."

" I could do so," replied Professor Wortman, emphasizing
could. " But you will observe that I will have sufficient money
for me to retire and be at ease the remainder of my life."

" Baron de Rothschild thinks a man should not get at ease,"
said the confidential man. " He is the hardest worked man in
Europe. He would soon die of ennui were he to retire from
business."

" I recognize that fact," said Professor Wortman. " I am
somewhat philosophical in matters of life myself. I was a poor

Grand Bonanza Sold. 273

man a very short time ago. I had labored hard all my life and
spent much of my time in deep study. I had no established busi-
ness running smoothly like clockwork, and have had to do all my
work myself. I did not have trained men, each in his sphere of
duty, to perform my work for me and make my life easy. So I
am overworked. When I can retire with grace and ease it is my
desire and duty to myself to do so."

" We will have all the men of the necessary ability to aid you,"
replied the confidential man. " All we would want is that you
give the business your personal direction. Our people would be
more agreeable and better satisfied. We believe where a man
makes a success for himself in this line there also is the place for
us to keep him. We have no pets to reward."

" I can remain with you on a salary until I can instruct your
man," said the Professor. ;' If he be competent I can impart to
him sufficient information within a few months, probably two
or three months."

' That possibly would be satisfactory if you make it twelve
months," suggested the agent. " If you will agree to that I will
cable to-night ; that is, if you can send it to the telegraph office
for me."

" Certainly; we have messengers for that purpose," quickly re-
plied the Professor. He saw the man meant to close the deal.
" I guess I will agree and remain a year as you request."

The cablegram was sent. Late in the day following a reply
was received.

It requested that Mr. Millyard and Professor Wortman accom-
pany the gentlemen to Europe at once.

" This business will not permit of my leaving here," said
Professor Wortman. " I can, however, give my proxy, my power
of attorney, to' Mr. Millyard. He can act for me."

' That will answer all purposes," he said, " except as to mak-
ing a contract to run the business for them. What are you will-
ing to do in that respect? How much salary do you want to re-
main a year? "

" I will remain the twelve months for five thousand dollars per
month," replied the Professor. " I can clear more than thirty
times a whole year's salary on the first day."

" I will recommend that they give it," said the man.

All the preliminaries being arranged. Mr. Millyard agreed tc
sail from New Orleans as soon as possible inside of two weeks,
18

274 The Lady of New Orleans.

and the confidential man and the experts took their departure for
New York to return to Europe.

" Now, Professor, what we must do," said Millyard, "is to
rush everything as rapidly as possible before we make the trans-
fer. It occurs to me that five hundred million dollars for me and
fifty million dollars for you is a cash transaction that just only
few men ever, if ever, received for their own behoof before. They
are more anxious to purchase than we are to sell. They want to
close the deal as quickly as possible. I am to take a large portion
of my pay in securities. I would have to invest any way. But
they are to pay yours in cash."

' I am entirely satisfied with your trade, as I cabled you," said
Professor Wortman. ' I leave the whole transaction entirely in
your hands. It is you who have made it for me. I worked for
you and myself, with my brains and your money. If you had not
let me have the money to commence the business, and I an entire
stranger to you, I could not have made this property what it is
and could not have developed one-thousandth part of what I
have. So» you may rest perfectly easy as to how I feel about it.
You get me fifty million dollars, even if it be in securities, I
shall be a happy man."

' I shall be sorry if they do not get their money back out of it,"
said Millyard. " There is this thing certain, however, if they
do get their money back they will not be long about it. Probably
no longer than we have been getting out not quite two hundred
million."

As they were walking back to the office Millyard said he was
sorry about one thing, and that was, he was loth to give up the
log castle. When the Professor said one could be built just like
it, Millyard directed him to get a good architect and have him
examine the house and make the plans and specifications for one,
even superior, so that he could have it built somewhere near or on
Grandfather Mountain.

" Since our business affairs are amicably arranged," said the
Professor sadly, when they were in the office, " I am sorry to say
I have sad news for you. There are a couple of telegrams from
your banker in New Orleans and two from Atlanta. I knew you
were on the ocean so I took the libertv of opening and reading
them."

Mr. Millyard eagerly grasped the telegrams and read them.

They announced the assault upon his mother and his sister,

Grand Bonanza Sold 275

and the last one received told of the shocking death of his
mother.

" Great heavens ! That is awful ! " exclaimed Mr. Millyard,
sinking back into a chair in a passion of weeping.

Eventually recovering himself somewhat he requested to be
sent over to Hickory at once.

He boarded the first passenger train bound for Atlanta, where
he stopped over and went to see his sister.

Their meeting was so sad and sacred it is not material to de-
scribe it, or record what they said.

Mr. Millyard, sad and gloomy, returned to New Orleans. His
wife was greatly pleased and sanctioned all that he had done and
what he proposed to do. So also did Mr. Mike Delarue. Mrs.
Millyard declined his request for her to make this trip to Europe
with him, as he would be pressed for time. Had she known she
would have complied.

For reasons to himself he refrained from acquainting his de-
voted wife with the circumstances of his mother's death, only
relating the bare fact that she had died during his absence.

When Mr. Millyard again arrived at the log castle at the green
diamond mines amid the mountains of Western North Carolina
representatives and employes of a little syndicate that had pur-
chased these wonderful spodumene mines which were producing
tons of gold and yielding thousands upon thousands of the rarest,
most precious gem ever found in all the world, accompanied him
from Europe. They were ready and eager for the property to be
turned over the next day.

Professor Wortman, conforming to a cablegram from Mr.
Millyard, had already made an inventory of the property in dupli-
cate ready for signature. Mr. Dalgal had the deeds to the land
ready for Mr. Millyard's signature.

The checks, exchange, bonds, stocks and other securities for
Mr. Millyard and the cash for Professor Wortman had been
transferred from Europe and placed in New York. The financial
representative of the syndicate had in his possession written or-
ders for them, which orders were to be turned over to Messrs.
Millyard and Wortman on receipt of the deeds to the land and a
receipted inventory of the plant and upon turning over to him
as agent of the purchasers the property itself. A New York
lawyer had come with them to see for the syndicate that every-
thing was done all right and legally.

276 The Lady of New Orleans.

The deeds to the land and bill of sale for the personal property
were duly signed next morning and the transfer legally consum-
mated.

Alpha Millyard and Alfred Wortman received their stipulated
price and the representatives of the foreign syndicate took pos-
session of the gigantic business. Professor Wortman was ap-
pointed general manager and one of the men who came over was
installed as assistant cashier. The other foreigners were also
assigned to positions, where they were expected to learn their
respective duties as quickly as possible.

Thus closed the most gigantic, colossal financial transaction
that ever took place between individuals since the time when
man was planted on this earth.

Reality? The thing is there to show for itself. Hundreds of
people, even in the United States, are wearing, or have stored
away, one or more of these most brilliant of all sparkling gems.
In fact, many of the gems were given away in this country.
These gems are now sold for more than they brought in the
great hey-day of the mines.

Two million dollars every working day during two months
and more !

Then a sale of the mines for five hundred and fifty million
dollars !

Five hundred million dollars of which belonged to one man !

Zounds ! It is stupendously colossal !

Still, America is that kind of country. Genius and enterprise
with daring pluck redound in colossal fortunes very quickly.
It is the only country in the world where, as a rule, such colossal
fortunes are acquired by individuals in such brief period.

Professor Alfred Wortman continued his labors at the mines.
Mr. Alpha Millyard departed immediately for New York to ac-
quire his securities, checks, exchange and cash. It was also nec-
essary for him to stop over at Washington and Philadelphia to
arrange about his share of the gold and its coinage.

In New York Millyard secured a number of safety-vaults in a
trust company, as no one vault was large enough, and deposited
many of his securities. He arranged with different banks about
the deposit of some of his cash in each, but carried the bulk of the
foreign exchange and some of the checks on New York and Bos-
ton banks with him to New Orleans.

Alpha Millyard now desired to take breath, ascertain where
he stood and see what he could do, so he went home.

Plans for the Future. 277

CHAPTER XLVI.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

Alpha Millyard received part of his enormous payment in
bonds and stocks of the most prominent corporations in America,
including some Southern railways, the future possibilities of
which, if properly managed, he was fully aware. Of the stocks
he took none but those in which he acquired large blocks and at
valuations shading under the quoted market price. This he main-
tained in making the deal or required the cash. This was all ar-
ranged while he was in Europe. He already had an inventory
of what he was to receive.

Madame Millyard was delighted with her husband's transac-
tions. Her dear old mother, seated in the plush-cushioned chair
shaking her pointing finger, said :

" Rittea, you have the smartest man in the world for a hus-
band."

' Thanks, my dear mother-in-law," he interposed. " I am
glad, proud, to have such good opinion expressed of me by you.
I have some friends who have led me into the way of all this
good fortune, one especially, Mr. Galen Dalgal. I desire to have
him and his family make us a visit."

'When will they come, dear Alpha?" asked Mrs. Millyard,
who had just come in the room.

" I do not know, my dear Rittea, but some time soon, I hope,"
he replied. " I want us both, to show them that we appreciate
the good turn. Though, I must admit, it was by no desire on his
part, but just happened so. He is a great dreamer, a dreamo-
maniac, as they call him. He dreams a thing has happened and
eventually it turns out that way. He dreamed I was going to sell
the mines, give the names of the parties, else I may not have
thought of them, probably, or seriously considered the matter of
selling.

278 The Lady of New Orleans.

" He is a splendid lawyer and will attend to my legal business.
I must needs have a lawyer so I will not get caught in subsequent
legal complications. You understand, of course, I will have to
investigate the legal aspects in every case before I make an in-
vestment. It will not be good policy for me to be taking lawyers
here and there and any kind and letting them know about my
private affairs."

" O, yes, I am quite sure that will be the best plan. Then you
pay him by the year and have his services whenever necessary,"
said Mrs. Millyara. " B t could you not get a suitable lawyer
here in New Orleans?"

He had argued tow ird this very question. He had an intui-
tion it was coming. He replied :

" They practise under a different system in this State from that
of the other States, my dear. Besides, I already had Mr. Dalgal
at the mines and he had became somewhat familiar with my af-
fairs. In view of that I thought it would be best to keep him."
He evidently discerned something sinister in her question.

The treasure Millyard had must be taken to the bank ; the se-
curities were contained in a strong, well-locked leather valise and
of great weight. Millyard had arrived early in the morning long
before the hour for opening the bank for business. Louis was
requisitioned to attend him and the carriage was ordered out.
Singular as it may seem, Millyard had sent it by express a day in
advance of himself and inadvertantly had addressed it to his res-
idence instead of to the bank.

Mr. Millyard was at his bank by ten o'clock and was warmly
greeted by President Delarue and all the gentlemen connected
with it.

''So you have sold your bonanza?" pleasantly remarked
Delarue.

"Sold? Yes, Mike, sold; and got the wherewith, which was
my price, and a bonanza it is, too. Louis has it in the trunk, at
least part of it — the balance is in New York and the U. S. treas-
urv. I want to make a deposit on the same conditions as
before."

Delarue called the cashier and individual bookkeeper and they
came to his room. The trunk, as Millyard called it. was opened
and the men set to work on the task of calling off the amounts,
placing them on paper and then adding them with a will and
vim.

Plans for the Future. 279

Two hours later Alpha Millyard's bank account was credited
with one hundred and thirteen million eight hundred and seventy-
four thousand and nine hundred and sixty-five dollars and forty-
four cents. This was to be augmented by the amount received
as premium on the domestic as well as foreign exchange.

Mr. Millyard had twenty million dollars in French securities,
which he placed in his .private vault. He was quite as familiar
with the actual value of French securities as he was at that time
with the bonds and stocks of United States corporations.

Visiting the steamship company's offices and going the rounds
of the offices of those corporations in which he was interested
Millyard returned to the bank, and at lunchtime the semi-billion-
aire and his bank president repaired to Johnnie's cafe.

" Mike," said. Millyard, when they were seated at a table in
Johnnie's, " did you ever note that as a rule only about one-half
the men start out in life with ambition, an aim ? And that of this
class nine-tenths of them miss the mark of their ambition? And
of these, one-tenth, drifting into other channels by accident or
sometimes by design, achieve success ? "

Mr. Delarue twisted himself round sideways to the table and,
pulling the doily through his hands and looking thoughtfully,
replied :

" I cannot say that I have. But I do not quite understand your
proposition."

" Well, for instance," began Millyard in explanation, " I had
ambition, and I have it yet, but in another direction. I started
out in life with the idea that I would be a big lawyer and be-
come a great statesman, probably President. I can remember
trudging along the streets looking at the big houses, the clear blue
sky, the passing people, then furtively glancing across the street
at a big bill-board I would see the flaming poster announcing
some grand theatrical performance by some renowned tragedian.
Then the thought struck me that I ought to run for Congress and
take that as a sort of stepping-stone to becoming a statesman and
probably President. Day by day, month after month, that great
ambition had possession of my soul. I thought by it I could be-
come a man of renown, a great man. It haunted me, was a
mania. I could not escape the illusion. I did not care for any
office inferior to congressman. That idea never entered my
head. I was above it. I could not stoop to less than being a
congressman.

2 So The Lady of New Orleans.

" I drifted about practising law, but did not seem to succeed as
T wished. Then I come to New Orleans. I see now that drift-
ing", though involuntarily, into literature interfered with my law
and also brought about my troubles. But they brought about my
marriage and achievements in business and extraordinary success
in acquiring wealth. Now, I would no more be a congressman
than I would be a boot-black. I had rather be the author of
' Beautiful Snow.' Congressmen are worth only just whatever
price the lobbyists place upon them, and they encourage the lobby-
ist in his business. As for being President, I have no time to di-
vert mv mind from other things to it. I would not be President
if I could."

" I catch your idea now," said Mr. Delarue. " Who would
ever thought about my being a bank president while I was yet a
detective? 'And especially, as I was when you first met me?
There is no key to success until after success is achieved."

" If you are educated you are not satisfied," continued Mill-
yard. " It strikes me that the more educated a man the more re-
sponsibility there is upon him. I mean by that not only his re-
sponsibility to his fellow man, but to his God. I am about to ac-
knowledge that I have received and am now responsible for
more than I can bear or stand up under. Look at old man Sol-
omon, said to have been the wisest and richest man in the world,
excelling in travail the lamentations of good old Jeremiah ; whin-
ing and whimpering about every folly in the catalogue of follies
instead of doing good among his present fellow men. And I,
in his footsteps as far as riches are concerned, am already weary
of riches. Are not you ? "

" Well, Alpha, to tell you the truth, I do not fully understand
why I am trying to pile up riches," Mike earnestly replied.
" Suppose I die and leave it all to my wife and son and little
daughter? That is all I can do. Then what comes about?
The legacy that would be left to me and my name would be com-
passed ; only a brief epitaph on a polished piece of marble. All
that I care for is that my children shall not be left clouded by the
icicled atmosphere of uncertain charity and beggarly penury."

"Mike, my dear boy, you impress me seriously," said Mill-
yard when Mike had concluded his dissertation. ' I am but
human. The bouquet of your argument has an aromatic odor
that twinges the intellectual olfactories. It is upasistic. But
I am sure you do not mean to be wholly so much that way.

Plans for the Future. 281

Therefore I suggest that you mollify your views. Phrase your re-
marks in line with your idea."

Later Millyard arranged by telegraph with Mr. Dalgal and
Prof. Wortman to meet him in New York city.

While in New York Mr. Millyard, having a majority of the
bonds of several leading railways in the United States, was
easily led into the idea of consolidating some of them.

The three gentlemen seated in Mr. Millyard's room in the
Fifth Avenue hotel one night after a day's tedious business oper-
ations down town, Millyard said :

" Galen, I have arranged with two of the leading brokerage
firms in New York to do some trading for me. It is my inten-
tion to own out-right one trunk line railway to the South. I
want to double-track the line and reduce the passenger fare to
one cent a mile. This rate would be in keeping with a five-cent
fare on street railways. The net cost for hauling with reason-
able travel is not more than one-fourth of a mill per mile. That
rate would induce increased travel, thus increasing the money
receipts and encouraging the building up of the waste places.
P'eople will ride who never rode before. It will populate the
country so vastly that in twenty-five years where stations are to-
day will be cities. In this country a man cannot do a better piece
of business where he has a seeming or actual monopoly than to
set up a shop in opposition to himself and place some other man
in charge, then see which can do the best business. Competition
will draw trade and people will be induced to buy who never
bought before."

In a few days Millyard bought all the stocks he desired of cer-
tain railways. Meantime Prof. Wortman had arranged about
his money affairs. Then they went to Boston and remained
nearly a week.

Becoming weary, and showing signs of it, Millyard decided to
return home.

When they got back to New York from Boston, Millyard pur-
chased a second-hand buffet sleeping coach and had it fully
stocked with all necessaries ; at the same time announcing to his
friends that he proposed to have Pullman build him a luxurious
sleeping coach according to his own plans.

At length homeward the party started in Mr. Millyard's own
private coach. After an absence of three weeks he arrived back
in New Orleans.

282 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XLVII.

BLOWING ROCK ON GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN.

Mr. Millyard was now a very busy man. Business cares
were increasing every day. Being a man of broad ideas he was
a skillful executive, quick and shrewd ; discerning at a glance the
capabilities of a man he could immediately locate him in his
sphere of usefulness.

Thus from the very beginning he planned his every enterprise
in such manner and way that it was systematized at once. Or-
ders and reports were given and received only through one man
beside himself, and that man was Mr. Mike Delarue. whom he
drew into his confidential management as far as bank duties
would admit.

By appointment Dalgal met Millyard in Chicago, whither he
went to attend a meeting of railway directors. Besides making
several large investments in Chicago Millyard arranged with the
Pullman Palace Car Company to build him a palace traveling
and sleeping coach.

" I am of the opinion that you would build a log castle on
Grandfather Mountain," said Dalgal in a moment of abstraction
when they had left Chicago on their way South, " of which I
was speaking to you the other day, if you will only go with me
and take a trip across there."

" Galen, I do not remember your speaking to me about it, but
I want to keep from business awhile anyway, so when I return
to New Orleans, if the Madame will go with me, I will go and
bring her and the children. Then your wife and children can
go and the trip will be more agreeable and pleasant all round;
we can then take our time. Your dreaming about it suggests it
may be a good idea."

Two weeks later at two in the afternoon by the clock Mill-
yard and Dalgal, with their families, were in surries rolling west

Blowing Rock on Grandfather Mountain. 283

out from Lenoir bound for Blowing Rock, twenty miles distant
up the mountain, four thousand and ninety feet above the sea
level.

From Hickory, twenty miles east, they had gone to Lenoir at
noon on the narrow gauge railroad. The coachmen and other
drivers had driven the teams through from Hickory the evening
before.

Blowing Rock, which is on the mountain ten or twelve miles
from Grandfather Mountain proper, is a sort of summer resort.
During the hot summer months hundreds of visitors from all
•portions of the United States visit there, especially people from
New Orleans. Blowing Rock and Hickory are New Orleans
summer resorts. Hickory is also somewhat of a winter resort for
people of the North, particularly of New Hampshire, Massa-
chusetts and Michigan.

The party stopped over at Blowing Rock a couple of days, dur-
ing which time Mr. Millyard made himself quite assiduous in his
attentions to Mrs. Dalgal. But Mr. Dalgal was equally so tow-
ards Mrs. Millyard, or as much so as was his nature to be.

In the afternoon after their arrival the party walked out on the
brow of the almost perpendicular rock-walled mountain where,
toward the south, they could look down nearly twelve hundred
feet. The meandering Johns River, seeming to suddenly emerge
from the rock cliff directly underneath them, wanders off zig-
zagging southeast between t»he lower mountains toward the
charming Catawba River.

A cooling mist of rain, or heavy rainlike fog came sweeping over
the mountain from the north-northwest. Soon thereafter a ter-
rific storm, with thunder roaring and lightning flashing, spread
itself below them over the broad expanse of mountains and val-
leys. Over it all they could see South mountains and the clear
horizon beyond.

The storm swept on and soon passed from view in the distance
to the southeast. The atmosphere became clear and cool. Night
came on. The party were still contemplating the beautiful. With
field-glasses they saw the lights as they twinkled into view at
Morganton, twenty odd miles away, slightly to the southwest.
They also saw the lights of Hickory, nearly forty miles to the
east-southeast.

' This is wonderful, Madame Dalgal," exclaimed Millyard.
" But I suppose you have seen it many times before ? "

284 The Lady of New Orleans.

•" No," she replied, " this is the first time I was ever at Blow-
ing Rock, although I have lived so near it."

' I suppose you have not availed yourself of the opportunity
because being so near you consoled yourself with the reflection
that vou could visit here at any time you desired?" remarked
Millyard.

' 1 have frequently thought of coming here and several times
have had the opportunity of coming with friends, but something
would transpire to prevent me. My anxiety to come would be
consoled, as you say, by the reflection that I could go the next
time. In this way the real opportunity did not present itself until
now. I suppose I would not have come this time only you and
the others were coming." Quickly she added, "and the others."

' That is very nicely said," retorted Millyard, archly. " I am
very glad I, — and the others, — have been instrumental in causing
you to visit this charming place where nature is so lavishly grand
and weird. I had not reflected that you could be influenced bv
me."

Pointing to her breast-pin of Hiddenite gems, Mrs. Dalgal re-
plied:

'You do not think I have forgotten who presented me this?"

"Why, did not Mr. Dalgal present you one? " asked Millyard,
curiously.

" He never thought about it, I suppose," she replied. " Mr.
Dalgal can give me one at any time, but I feel sure it would not
be so costly. However, coming from you, it is appreciated on ac-
count of old times."

" You have a remembrance of old times, then ? That is very
charming for me to hear you say. Not with any regrets, I
hope ? " The latter remark was quite peculiar in its nature.

: Yes, sometimes it seems to me that the past is a dream," she
said. ' It is a teaching of our Christian religion that we are to
work out our salvation and that our lives here as well as hereafter
are what we make them, but I do not see how I could have al-
tered mine." She bowed her head.

" I am sorry if you ever have grief- "

" I must go to the hotel, Alpha ; the air is too cnr.l,'' interrupted
Mrs. Millyard, as she with Mr. Dalgal and the children, with their
nurses, quickly advanced to where Mrs. Dalgal and Mr. Millyard
were standing.

Blowing Rock on Grandfather Mountain. 285

" Yes, we had better return to the hotel," said Mr. Millyard.
" Madame Dalgal is fatigued and chilled."

It should have been stated that the party were traveling with
three surries and two 'ambulance wagons. The latter were in
charge of Louis. Mrs. Millyard's maid and servant-girl, with De
Ampbert, the little boy, occupied the third surrey. Mittie, their
little girl, had been left at home with her grandmother.

Mr. Millyard purchased three hundred acres of land about five
miles from the village on the mountain with the name so unique,
which included one of the most beautiful sites for a log castle in
that whole section.

When preparing to leave Blowing- Rock it so happened that Mr.
Dalgal escorted Mrs. Millyard to her vehicle and assisted her to
get inside. Mr. Millyard thereupon, no doubt thinking Mr. Dal-
gal intended to ride with her, got in the surrey with Mrs. Dalgal.
Thus they rode the remainder of the day.

After leaving Blowing Rock one word brought on another, as
the witnesses say in the police courts. Desultory discussion
brought about a digression in their journey, for it so happened that
a gentleman whom they met on being accosted by Mr. Millyard,
so far enthused him with a unique description of a picturesque
section of country called Rock Creek, which, the man explained,
was only a short distance out of their route, that Mr. Millyard
decided and the others acquiesced in the proposal to visit this
wonderful Rock Creek section. Only Mr. Dalgal objected with-
out objecting. He seemed to be a phonetic imbiber and decipherer
of future events, which he translated at his leisure for his own
special behoof. He never told his companions what was coming.

Turning into the road designated by the passing stranger our
party arrived at a place which they gruesomely learned to be " the
dead line."

It was demonstrated to them in a manner very peculiar that
there is or was such a place as " the dead line," especially a " dead
line " over which a negro cannot pass without a practical demon-
stration of the fact, a section of country in this glorious land of
liberty from which a negro is effectually barred, shut out, on which
he cannot enter, law or no law to the contrary.

Immersed, as it were, even to a surfeit, in the sublime scenery,
our party were almost oblivious to all things else save enchant-
ment over the wide, the unbounded prospect mapped out before
their eyes.

286 The Lad)' of New Orleans.

Suddenly they were confronted on the highway by three ordi-
nary-looking mountaineer farmers and were ordered to halt. One
of the three stalwart mountain men propounded the question as to
whether it was intentional and premeditated that they were at-
tempting to take negroes across the dead-line — take them into the
forbidden land ? — the land where no negro, male or female, or
any person with a trace of negro blood in their veins, were al-
lowed to enter ?

Air. Millyard and Air. Dalgal protested their ignorance of any
such law, custom or regulation of society in that section or direc-
tion. They saw no line and knew of none dead or alive, so they
remarked.

Meantime one of the three dead-line sentry ordered one of the
negro drivers to dismount from the vhicle he was conducting.
The negro, obeying, was then made to unbutton his coat and vest
and pull up his shirt, thus exposing his abdomen. The amiable
but very tantalizing six-foot dead-line guard produced a large
keen-edged knife, which he tested upon a hair from his own
shock, to show that it was sharp. Then with the back, which the
negro thought was the edge of the blade, he dexterously and
quickly diabolically described two symmetrical Hogarthian curves
in reverse order, the one above the other, upon the shivering
negro's bare stomach, which was evidently intended to be symbolic
of disemboweling him.

That negro and the other negroes of the party were then com-
manded to leave there, and do it quick, and to never return and try
to pass across the dead-line again ; if they did the edge of the knife
blade would be turned.

The negro took it well as long as it lasted, but now he was
simply frightened out of his wits ; so were the others ; also the
white persons — nearly.

The summary proceeding dispelled all desire on the part of our
party to proceed any further in that direction. They parleyed not
nor dallied ; they retreated. There was absence of ceremony in so
doing.

This was in Mitchell County, a solid, substantial republican-
party county. This is probably the only spot or section of terri-
tory in these United States where a negro or mulatto is prohibited
and not privileged to enter under any conditions.

Mr. Millyard was indignant. But what did that amount to?
Why waste life's vitality on indignity ? A hundred or more sturdy

Blowing Rork on Grandfather Mountain. 287

mountaineers stood ready, yea, willing', waiting and anxious, to
enforce vi ct armis the decrees and will of the people of their ex-
clusive white man's territory.

It is a lesson as broad as the continent, of as much scope as
the Stars and Stripes floating in its entire comprehension and
range of possibilities.

Madame Millyard began evincing symptoms of weariness ; vi-
vaciousness had disappeared from her actions and speech. The
two men, having put their heads together, decided to hurry
through the trip. Although she made no complaint, Mr. Millyard
had become apprehensive that his wife was ill and was trying to
conceal the facts from him. There was no suspicion on his part,
not the least, that his attentions to his former affianced was rank-
ling in the heart of Madame Millyard.

288 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE LADY OF NEW ORLEANS.

" My dear Rittea, I am afraid there is something serious the
matter with you ; what can it be ? Please tell me ; I am distressed
about you."

Mr. and Mrs. Millyard had been at home several days when he
addressed these remarks to her. Noticing the despondency of his
wife, he was himself morcse and languidly indifferent to passing
events, save her. Man and wife who do have affinity for each
other have the same moods and feelings co-existent. Mrs. Mill-
yard kindly replied :

" I did not know there was anything the matter with me, Alpha
dear. You are aware, however, that mv poor old mother is very
frail and fast giving way in all but her mind. I do not see how I
could bear up under the loss were she to leave us. She has had
extra care, for her, in the charge of our little daughter during
our absence."

" I am sorry we did not take Mittie with us ; your good mother
insisted, as you know, and would have her. But your mother is
good for many years yet, my dear. I am afraid there is some-
thing other than that which is disturbing your peace of mind.
May I know what it is? If I can do anything to release you from
grief I will surely do it."

" There is nothing, dear Alpha, you can do that will bring me
surcease of sorrow. I have not had one moment's peace of mind
from a whirl of dreadful apparitions since that fearful night in
New York."

" Now, there, dear Rittea ! " exclaimed Millyard, as he cast his
left arm round her neck, chuckling her under the chin with his
right hand and kissing her. " I have hoped that you would not
ever again think of that incident. As I remember, you promised
me you would not. I seldom think of it or anything in connection

The Lady of New Orleans. 289

with it. But if you continue to brood over it there is little chance
left for me to keep it banished from my mind."

" Alpha, there is some strange, weird feeling continually steal-
ing through my brain, tingling every nerve and arousing sensa-
tions that portend an adverse feeling on your part. For instance,
in thinking last night of my dear mother I wondered to myself
that should she die would you attend her funeral ? You would not
wish people to see you in attendance at her funeral ? " She said
this deprecatingly, almost sneeringly.

" Good heavens ! " exclaimed Alpha. " Why not, dear? I have
not thought of it, but I would not desire to attend uer funeral for
the good reason that I do not desire her to die. I prefer that she
live, live for your sake, if for no other good reason. But, should
that calamity befall us, that your sweet, gentle mother were to
die, I would be deeply grieved and, sorrowing, I would attend her
remains to their final resting place ; I would grieve to see you
grieve.

" I will be pleased if you will kindly frankly inform me why you
have such strange, gloomy thoughts ? "

' You do not' seem to be as partial to me since that affair in
New York as you were orevious to that time," she said.

" Sweetie, that is all your own imagination. You are conjuring
those visions. You think upon them so intensely that you really
begin to believe them. Banish them from your mind. There is
not a scintilla of foundation for them. I love you more than I
ever did. No husband adores his wife more than I do you,
Sweetie."

" That is the way I like so much to hear you talk. It gives me
courage, assurance. But, dear Alpha, you know you were very
attentive to Mrs. Dalgal?"

" Well, now, dear Rittea, that was for your sake and to con-
form to the social amenities of the occasion. I did not know Mr.
Dalgal would be dull, uninteresting and not a brilliant gallant for
a lady, for he is a brilliant lawyer, if he is a country lawyer. If
you think that way about it, dear, I wish I had not sent our Pull-
man after them to come down here. I can telegraph and have it
returned."

" O, no, no ! Not now ! You have explained it satisfactorily.
Of course it was your duty to be pleasant to Mrs. Dalgal and not
because she was your old lover."

" No, indeed," laughed Alpha. " I never thought of that. It

T9

290 The Lady of New Orleans.

would have been my duty to have been the same towards any other
lady under similar circumstances. Unlike some other men, my
dear," he continued, pressing his wife to his breast, " I am glad to
see and know that you are somewhat jea'.ous. It shows your love
and devotion for me, and will make me more careful in the future.
Xow when they visit us it will be your social duty to look after
the pleasure of Mrs. Dalgal and mine to look after Mr. Dalgal.
But he and I will be engaged in busines Thev will remain only
three or four days. I must go to New York in a few days and Mr.
Dalgal must accompany me."

Next morning as Alpha started out in town he remarked to his
wife :

" My dear, I am to take lunch with Mr. Delarue to-day. I trust
our mother will be better when I return. By the way, is the doc-
tor coming this morning ? " A doctor had been attending
Madame de Ampbert during several days past.

" I think so," she replied. " If he does not I shall send for
him."

" That is right," returned Aloha. " If she becomes any worse
send for me up to the bank at once."

" Mike," said Alpha, while they were at lunch, " I never knew
until yesterday that my wife is jealous of me. I discovered that
she was grieving about something, has been since we were in the
North Carolina mountains, so I questioned her closely concerning
it, and at first she tried to throw me off the track by claiming to
be brooding about her mother's illness. Then she said she had
been thinking were her mother to die would I attend her funeral,
whether I would wish neople to see me in attendance at her moth-
er's funeral. She even asserted that she had not passed one mo-
ment's peace of mind since that episode in New York. And at last
she charged me with being attentive to Mrs. Dalgal during our
mountain trip. I assured her that was my social duty and no more
and her cheerfulness returned. But, I will tell you, Mike, that dark
spot will forever be a horrible torture to the mind of that dear,
sweet woman. Just think of it ! Had she remained in ignorance
of any knowledge on my part that her mother is an octoroon she
would never have experienced any grief about it. She has
brooded over the thought that possibly I do not love her or care so
much for her ever since the public revelation about her mater-
nity. This has caused her to be suspicious and watchful, there-
fore quick to detect even slight attentions of mine to other ladies.

The Lady of New Orleans. 201

I see this now. Hence, I am very greatly embarrassed. But I
must abstain, absolutely refrain, from giving her the least founda-
tion for any pangs whatsoever.

" It knocks me completely out of society. My lawyer, Mr.
Dalgal, accompanied by his wife, my old sweetheart, will be here
on a visit to us to-morrow or next day. It will be necessary for
me to refrain from any other attentions than bare civility to Mrs.
Dalgal. As my wife's mother is sick and not expected to live, die
is with her constantly. So I wish you would do me the favor to
get your wife to call as soon as they arrive and during her stay
show Mrs. Dalgal all the courtesies possible."

" I will arrange that, Alpha," replied Mike. " I did not know
that your mother-in-law is sick."

" Rittea has been very reticent in letting- me know about it,"
said Alpha. " She has always been very diffident in speaking to
me about her mother. It seems that she is apprehensive about
something and does not want me to know much about her mother,
or, rather, as little as possible. I have arrived at the conclusion
that she is pining and fretting herself to death at a very rapid
gait, and all because of the taint in her mother's blood. She has
presentiments of what people say about it. I have endeavored
every way to allay her erroneous, or at least, absolutely unneces-
sary suspicions about what is unalterable. I care nothing for so-
ciety, only as far as fashion goes, but my wife is ambitious and
high-minded. This taint has made her more so and I want her to
be so. She is anxious for the future of her children. So am I.
Her chief aim is that they shall not be objects of slur in social caste.
I agree with her. She has several times called my attention to
their finger nails and to the base of their hair on the nape of their
necks. She has asked me if I could detect any kinks in their hair
at those places. That is not pleasant to me. But a shows the trend
of her mind. I told her last night, when I insisted on going into
the room to see her mother, that now, since we are so wealthy,
society will force demands upon us for its own gratification,
whether we want to be of society or not, but that I want our
daughter to be so reared that she can marry a practical, broad-
minded, business man ; one who can and will take care of the
riches I intend to give her, and not a society man.

" Now, Mike," continued Alpha, " I do not fully recognize my
justification in telling you all about this family affair, but the
fact remains every man must have some confidential friend, and

2Q2 The Lady of New Orleans.

you are the nearest man to me. Besides, you are conversant with
the main points in the case, that is, about my mother-in-law being
an octoroon. So it is not like telling a friend who does not know
of this. Hence I feel safe in telling you."

" Indeed you are, Alpha," asserted Mike, earnestly. " I think
more of your wife than I do of any woman in the world except
my own wife. Your wife is a perfect angel here on earth."

1 Yes, and by thunder, I do not like for her to be brooding over
such a matter when I have fully condoned it, even when I married
her. She does me an injustice as well as herself and her children.
I wish there was some way your wife could talk to her about it."
' My wife knows all about her mother and her mother before
her. She knows of them from the time their foremother was
landed at Charleston, South Carolina, by a Northern ship com-
manded by a New England master."

" Of course, then she can intercede," quickly proclaimed Alpha.
;' Mike, you suggest that she condole with Mrs. Millyard and try
to cheer her."

" I can easily arrange that," he said quietly. " Mv wife, as you
know, is her most intimate friend. I can, without divulging any-
thing of what you have said, enlist Mrs. Delarue's good offices 'in
bringing about a restoration, if possible, of Mrs. Millyard's cheer-
fulness and former frame of mind. I know how to do it, but Mrs.
Delarue knows better how to handle the case than either vou or I."
" All right. Just leave it to her," said Millyard.
Mr. and Mrs. Dalgal arrived in New Orleans early next morn-
ing on Mr. Millyard's private car. Mrs. Delarue called in the
middle forenoon. In the afternoon she took Mrs. Dalgal out driv-
ing and showed her New Orleans from a carriage point of view.

Meantime Mrs. Millyard's mother was growing worse. The
dear old lady was gradually sinking. The best physicians of the
city were in continuous attendance. Mrs. Millyard would not
leave her mother's chamber, even for her own welfare.

A couple of mornings after their arrival Mr. Dalgal was up and
out in the hallway at an early hour. It so happened that Mr. Mill-
yard had also risen early. Mr. Dalgal, meeting him with great
solemnity, inquired :

" When will you have the funeral, Alpha ? "

" What funeral ? " asked Millyard, astounded.

" Why, you told me last night your wife was dead ! "

The Lady of New Orleans. 293

" Great heavens, man, have you dreamed that my wife is dead? "
He instantly became in a passion of excitement.

" Dreamed? No ; you told me so! " exclaimed Dalgal.

" My gracious ! We never talked about her last night. She is
not sick; it is her mother who is sick ; but even she is not so seri-
ously ill. If you have dreamed in that manner, Galen, I am afraid
it refers to her instead of to my wife, your dreams always come
so true. Do not say a word about it to my wife ; she knows all
about your dreaming qualities, and it would alarm her seriously."

" I told my wife about it as soon as I awoke and I expect she
has gone in the room to see your wife. That is the reason we got
up so soon." Dalgal said this in quick speech.

" For goodness sake ! hurry and see her before she sees my wife
and tells her," cried Millyard.

Mr. Dalgal rushed to the partially open door screaming, " Lu-
cilla," followed closely by Millyard. They were too late. Mrs.
Dalgal had already seen Mrs. Millyard and told her.

294 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XLIX.

THE STING THAT STINGS.

Madame Millyard and Mrs. Dalgal appeared much amused
at Mr. Dalgal's absurd dream. Mr. Millyard was not so easily
amused. He took it seriously; very seriously.

Two days later the Dalgals departed for their home. They
saw the situation, that Mrs. Millyard had to attend to her sick
mother, and so abbreviated their visit.

Mr. Millyard was greatly distressed; more on account of his
wife because of Dalgal's dream than any other cause.

Two days later the physicians were called suddenly from
Madame de Ampbert's chamber into that of her daughter. Mrs.
Millyard had been suddenly prostrated by a fearful attack of
sickness. The doctors were unable to immediately diagnose her
case.

Mrs. Millyard was now the sick person in the house. She
lingered in dreadful agony during several days, continually ask-
ing about her mother, and requiring Mr. Millyard and the two
children to be with her all the time. Later being told that her
mother was better, she revived considerably.

Late one night while the physicians were temporarily absent
and the children were asleep, Mr. Millyard seated by her bed,
she said :

" Alpha, dear, I feel that I am about to pass away. That
man's, Mr. Dalgal's, dream is dreadful."

" Oh, now dear, please do not let that disturb you," pleaded
Alpha.

" It does not, Alpha ; but I know my time is short. I feel it.
I want to say this to you before I go. If you marry some other
woman and have children by her they will treat my children
coldly and perhaps cruelly when they become old enough and
know the bar-sinister, the ineffable and ineffaceable barrier, the
deep gulf which society in its tyranny would place and does place

The Sting that Stings. 295

between my children and those whom society would acknowl-
edge to have no taint of blood. But there are those who are
tainted in blood other than my poor dear mother and myself.
There are men. thousands of men, who have made themselves
tainted and their children very much worse by concubinage with
negroes. The odor, that awful odor, from the armpits of such
men reveals a tale that for which the very heavens and angels
cry out against. Let not such men mock the misery they have
created. It is true I have had more pleasure at my command
on account of the wealth left me by my father than I could ever ex-
pected or experienced had my mother and my grandmother and
her mother never been the mistresses of white men. But on the
other hand, I have experienced more inward horror and sup-
pressed sorrow than most any other woman in the world.

" Especially has this been so," she said, turning her head and
continuing, " since that sad, dreadfully sad, night in New York.
There were women there that night whose husbands, and some
whose sons, were no whit better than my dear father. That
course of itself will that surely mix the blood of a white man's
legitimate children."

" My maid has told me all about them ; she knew them. She
knew the women who had private lovers other than their hus-
bands. It was a common gossip among the maids. Had not
Sarah known me so well and sympathized with me she would
not have told me. It is the bar-sinister, — the bar-sinister of
miscegenation revealed to the world, to society, that shuts me
out, and makes society pure.

" I had never thought of this matter seriously in the glare of
the cold, calculating world until after that night. It penetrated
to the quick when subsequently my maid told me what she knew
about the men and some of the women.

" But you know, Alpha, I am not to blame for my helpless
condition. Neither is my mother to be blamed. She, the
daughter of an octoroon by a white man ! could she be expected
to marry a black negro, or even a mulatto? Could she, edu-
cated in Paris, refined and cultured, hope to marry a white man
equal in attainments and refinements in life? No, not at all.
Therefore, when a bachelor, a cultured French gentleman of
large wealth, requested her to become his mistress it was nat-
ural, yea, even the only course under the rigid and frigid rules
of society strictly complied with that she should accept him.

296 The Lady of New Orleans.

They were man and wife in all respects except in having a
license from the Parish clerk and a minister of the gospel to tell
them they were man and wife. For that reason, and being so
thinly tainted in my blood ; being educated and having wealth
bestowed upon me by my father for the promotion of my happi-
ness, I made bold to seek and wed the man of my choice. I saw
no harm in it. My father had desired such, and had me edu-
cated to it. He gave me wealth to aid me, and said I ought to
marry some fine gentleman. But now a new light has dawned
upon me. I see what harm it will be to my darling children.
For that reason it would please me, on to my dying moment, and
I could die easy and satisfied, were I to hear you say that you
will not marry again until my children are stationed in life, or
can be isolated from any other issue of yours.'*

" My dear, sweet Rittea, I have listened to your profound
remarks with deep emotion and conviction. You have im-
pressed me to the quick, and I promise you most solemnly that
I will do as you request. I am as deeply anxious about our dear
children as you can possibly be." Saying which he bent over
and kissed her. -

" That is so sweet." said she, rolling her glorious eyes toward
his and tossing her head on the pillow with her face facing him.

" Rittea, my dear, I do hope you will not die. You have
given me to melancholia. If you die and your good mother
dies, I shall have to live for the children, if I can live. But I
am afraid I would not live much longer. Grief has already
crowded itself unduly on me. Yea, more than I could bear,
only but for your sake. You are so sweet and lovely ; so amiable
in your disposition and temperament ; so trusting, gentle, con-
fiding " Mr. Mill yard broke down. He was weeping.

" There, dear Alpha ; don't cry. Kiss me." Placing his
hands against her cheeks he kissed her several times.

One of the physicians suddenly entered the room.

" O, ho ! I am glad to see you so much better. That is right,
Mr. Millyard, you remain right in here all the time. Your
cheerful presence is good medicine for our patient. But you
are up rather late."

" I fear, doctor," said Mrs. Millyard feebly, " this is only the
prelude to the worse that is coming."

" Xo, Madame, do not let your mind think any such thing!"
exclaimed the doctor, quickly and abruptly.

The Sting that Stings. 297

Another doctor came in the room ; it was the hour for their
coming, the fateful hour of three. The first doctor asked of the
last one :

" Don't you think she is better? "

:' She appears to be better ; I have no doubt really is better,"
replied the one interrogated, after he felt of her pulse.

" I am glad you both agree.-' said Millyard. " When doctors
disagree it is time to become alarmed."

" She is unquest'onably better." They both agreed to that.

' Your mother is also much improved," said the first doctor.

" Yes, that is quite correct," added the other.

" I am so glad," said Mrs. Millyard.

The trained nurse, who had been secured from a hospital, and
Mrs. Millyard's ma;d were called in the room by one of the doc-
tors. Mr. Millyard was excused. The doctors gave directions
what should be done, then retired.

Ten minutes later Mrs. Millyard became worse. The doctors
were quickly called. Her condition they admitted was critical.
Mr. Millyard sent Louis, with the coachman and landau, after
Mr. and Mrs. Delarue, who came.

Mrs. Millyard, the sweet, gentle ' lady of New Orleans,' lin-
gered until five in the morning, when she quietly and peacefully
went to sleep — forever.

' Think of me kindly," were the last words she uttered.

Mr. Alpha Millyard, his two children, De Ampbert Millyard,
the boy, and Mittie Millyard, the little girl, all the servants, the
three doctors and Mr. and Mrs. Mike Delarue were gathered
around the bed of Madame Rittea Millyard when she expired.

The good old mother pleaded ever so much to be taken up
and carried into the room. But her wish could not be granted ;
the doctors agreed that it would be fatal. The poor old lady
was sorely grieved at not being able to give her idol, her darling
daughter, a parting glance or salutation.

Alpha Millyard, prostrated, was carried in his room adjoining
and gently placed in bed. None of the other people, not one,
not even Mike Delarue, knew of the grief he bore, the weight
of his woe.

Mr. and Mrs. Delarue took matters in charge. The valet-
steward, Louis, the faithful old soul, was sent for the undertaker.

Hundreds of people called at the Millyard mansion during
the day. When her death became more generally known

298 The Lady of New Orleans.

through the two o'clock edition of the newspapers the number
of callers were increased to a continuous file of people. None
gazed more sadly on the beautiful features of the dead than those
who had been aided by her bountiful charity. She had always
sought at their homes those on whom she bestowed her bounty.

In New Orleans interments must take place in vaults on top of
the ground. Underneath the surface the soil is moist and soft,
marshy.

Before removing the remains from the house the casket contain-
inp- them was borne to the bedside of the grief-stricken, sick and
feeble old mother that ?he might look upon her dearly-beloved
daughter one more tim~ the last time, although cold and pallid in
death. It made a fervid impression ; she was overcome with grief.

The magnificent metallic casket containing the mortal remains
of Mrs. Rittea de Ampbert Millyard, the lady of New Orleans,
as the beneficiaries of her bounty had lovingly called her, were
deposited in the family vault beside those of her grandmother,
temporarily, until Mr. Millyard could have a more elaborate mau-
soleum built.

Thus passed away the " lady of New Orleans."

Mr. Millyard was again prostrated while at the tomb. He was
conveyed home as quickly as possible and placed in bed. The
doctors came at once. Serious apprehensions for his life were en-
tertained.

" Prepare chambers for Mrs. Delarue and myself; we will re-
main here all night." Thus spoke Mr. Delarue to Sarah, the
maid.

The doctors did all they could to revive Mr. Millyard, but their
efforts seemed in vain.

Shortly after one o'clock that night, while the people there were
at lunch in the dining-hall, Mr. Millyard showed symptoms of
revival. While Louis was absent, gone to notify the people of the
change, Mr. Millyard quietly went into the adjoining chamber,
which had been occupied by his wife. Delarue and the others
watched him. He knelt beside the bed ; in mournful tones he said :

" Please, Rittea, do not die. I do not understand why Galen
Dalgal had to make such a dream. He should have known better
than to tell it. Cast it from your mind ; do not think of it ; it is a
delusion. What will we do without you? O, darling Rittea!
think of the little children ! Please do not die ! "

The steward finally went to him and at length prevailed on him

The Sting that Stings. 299

to sip a little champagne, then to partake of a litttle lunch with a
cup of hot coffee.

Next day Mr. Millyard was very much better. But it was ap-
parent to Mr. Delarue and the doctors, even to the servants, that
his mind was wandering.

During several days following, Mr. Millyard listessly moped
about the house, not venturing out, seldom talking to any one,
save occasionally with his children and Delarue or with his
mother-in-law when he went into her chambers.

Madame de Ampbert was gradually but surely giving way
to the ravage of her disease, age, infirmity and grief.

Mr. Millyard conversed with Delarue when he came about
his business affairs rationally several minutes at a time.

The doctors came and went.

The old lady continued to get worse and worse. It became
evident that her time in life was near its close. Everything was
done and being done for her that was possible, but all to no
avail.

Ten days after Madame Millyard's funeral the old mother died.

Her remains were quietly put away in a handsome metallic cas-
ket in the vault beside her mother and her daughter.

30o The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER L.

LAWYERS ENTERING THEIR WEDGES.

" Alpha, come to the bank in the morning; it will benefit you
to come out and get some fresh air, talk business and otherwise
occupy your mind." Thus spoke Delarue one e-/enirg several
weeks after the funeral of Madame de Ampbert. Mr. Millyard
seemed to be averse to presenting himself to company in public ;
he had secluded himself at home and refused to be seen except by
his special friends, and they were few. The fact was, he knew his
own condition. He replied absent-mindedly :

" I will see how I feel in the morning."

" I have given your business close attention," returned Mike,
" but there are some matters requiring your personal direction. I
may not be able to attend to them as you would wish."

" Anything you do for me, Mike, is all right," retorted Alpha.
" However, I will come to the bank in the morning if I feel well
enough. Louis can bring me and the children in the victoria."
He desired the children to be with him all the time.

" There is a letter from your man at the mines." -■

" What does he write about ? "

" Something about another good thing he has found for you ;
I think it is copper and iron."

" Shucks," ejaculated Alpha. " I would not pull out of gold and
Hiddenite diamonds then go into iron and copper. Telegraph him
I am sick ; come and see me here. Also telegraph Galen Dalgal to
come immediately and bring his wife, children and servant ; that I
want them to take a trip with me on the Pacific coast. Ask for
answers when they can come."

Next morning Millyard, with his children, was conveyed to the
bank in his carriage. He was not feeble, physically, only men-
tally on certain lines. No one is wholly insane except an idiot.

" Mike," said Millyard, when they were at ease in the back

Lawyers Entering their Wedges. 301

room of the bank, " I want to get someone to administer upon the
estates of my wife and her mother."

" You must do that yourself," replied Delarue. " Do not trust
that to anyone else. You can get our lawyer, Goeticheus, and your
secretary to attend to all the busness for you. Did they have
much? though of course I know they did."

" My wife had about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars'
worth of property in this State besides what she owned in France.
Her mother had at least one hundred and fifty thousand dollars'
worth here besides what she had in France."

" Did they leave wills? " asked Delarue.

" No ; it was only a short time ago that my wife told me neither
of them had made wills, but issue inherits."

" Of course," said Delarue. ' You apply for letters of admin-
istration on both estates at once, this very morning."

This was agreed to and arranged that Delarue and the local
agent of Mr. Millyard's steamship co many should be his bonds-
men. Goeticheus, the lawyer of the bank, prepared the papers and
took the matter in charge. He was a specialist in that branch of
Louisiana law.

" Goeticheus, come to the bank directly," remarked Delarue, as
the three were leaving the court building after the transaction.

" Could you come by Judge Caldwell's office and say that I re-
quest him to please come with you ? " added Millyard. " I wish to
consult you and him together. He is a pretty fair lawyer, eh?
Mike ? "

" Yes ; he can size up with any of them," Mike replied, dryly.

" Since lawyers must be had I suppose I must have them and
have the best the market affords and employ them by the year,"
added Millyard. ' Thev are one of the necessary evils."

Ex-Judge Theophilus T. Caldwell was one of the leading law-
years of Louisiana. He and Goeticheus met Millyard and Delarue
in the directors' room of the. bank about half-past twelve.

" Judge Caldwell, I want to employ you by the year as one of
my attorneys ; you will be associated with Mr. Goeticheus and my
other attorney, who is in North Carolina. I have telegraphed for
him to come here. Can you accept the position? "

' I can accept the position and do my best to fill it to satisfac-
tion ; but will it prevent me from attending to my regular legal
business? "

" It will do this," said Millyard, earnestly : " when I want you,

302 The Lady of New Orleans.

I will want you ; otherwise it will not interfere any more than any
other business. I wish to say, however, I would desire that you,
both of you, keep up with the practice and all the decisions of the
Federal Judiciary. My business will be largely interstate; there-
fore my legal business largely in the United States courts. You
may have observed that we are rapidly drifting into adjudications f
without trial by jury. Forcing rights by injunctions. In other
words, equity has the docket. I must have lawyers who can keep
themselves up to date. In fact, who can go ahead of date."

" Mr. Millyard was once a practitioner at our bar," interposed
Mr. Goeticheus.

" Yes, I first met Mr. Millyard in the Eighth District Court,
where he defeated me in a very important case. That was nearly
ten years ago," Judge Caldwell replied. " I have respect for his
legal acumen."

" Gentlemen, it is our lunch time," said Delarue, suddenly en-
tering the directors' room where the gentlemen were. " I wish
you to join Mr. Millyard and myself in a lunch at Victor's."

The cashier called Delarue a moment and he went out. While
Delarue was absent Millyard went on :

" Thinking over the matter, and in order that each of you may
be a witness as to the other," said Millyard, " I propose to give
each of you twenty thousand dollars per annum and your expenses
when away from here on my business. This will be in the South-
ern States, also in the Western States, until my business in those
States justifies me in employing resident attorneys in that sec-
tion. What say you ? "

" That is satisfactory to me," responded Judge Caldwell.

" I am entirely satisfied," added Mr. Goeticheus.

" There is then no need of written contracts," said Millyard,
" only that we inform Mr. Delarue and each of us enter the mem-
orandum of date and amount and duty in our books."

" Will your business, though it is none of my business, justify
you in this expenditure, Mr. Millyard? How long may we hope
that it will last? You see, we ought to know in order that we
may govern our other engagements accordingly." These were
questions and reasons by Judge Caldwell, the eminent jurist.

" With your permission, Mr. Millyard, I am the attorney for
this bank," Goeticheus quickly spoke. " I do not know how much
else Mr. Millyard has, but his balance in this bank right now is
over one hundred million dollars."

Lawyers Entering their Wedges. 303

" Great Caesar! " exclaimed Judge Caldwell. ' I had no idea
the capital and deposits of all the banks in town amounted to one-
twentieth of that sum. Mr. Millyard, your legal business shall be
attended to so far as I am concerned the same as if it were my
own."

" I can say the same for myself," added Goeticheus.

With a twinkle in his eye, Millyard remarked :

'" It is my understanding that lawyers and doctors have axioms
in their ethics. However, I waive that in favor of your good in-
tentions. My deposit and what I am worth was and is private and
confidential and must be kept so. Please keep that in mind. Mr.
Dalgal, with his family, will be here in a few days. I shall leave
for California as soon as they come and take them with me. The
doctors say the trip is necessary for my health. I know I am
mentally broken down if not also physically."

Mr. Delarue returned to the room accompanied by three of the
bank's directors. He said :

" Mr. Millyard, we will noL have a directors' meeting to-day,
but these directors have come to pay you their respects."

" I am glad to meet you, gentlemen," said Millyard, rising. " I
appreciate your kindness and courtesy."

The directors remained only a few moments.

'" Mike, these two gentlemen and I have come to terms and
contracted at twenty thousand dollars a year each and their ex-
penses when off on my business, said Millyard. " Just consult
with them, please, on any business of mine for their attention.
Give Mr. Pollard whatever work of mine there is in his line. Mr.
Pollard, you will please remain about the bank at Mr. Delarue's
disposal at all times he desires." Mr. Pollard was one of Mill-
yard's stenographic secretaries, who had just come to the door.

•' Tt is time we were going to lunch," suggested Delarue.

They repaired to Victor's. Mr. Goeticheus and Judge Cald-
well were exceedingly jovial. They became more so after they
had two or three glasses of champagne, feed and wine working
in unison. Their joviality was the very thing for Mr. Millyard.
It took his mind from his great sorrows. Mr. Delarue drew him
into the zest of it as much as possible. The lawyers branched
out into telling anecdotes. The salary in sight may have added
pepper to their wits.

"It seems to be my turn again," Goeticheus remarked. " I'll
tell you, an old one, probably, but in a new way. I knew the

304 The Lady of New Orleans.

parties up in Georgia who were the principals, so to me it
appears' to be a good one. Red-headed Bill Carroll, now of
Montana', the best lawyer in the West, and the wittiest man in
the United States, had a case several years ago before Judge
Greene in Georgia. A witness was on the stand named Browne,
with the extra e at the end of his name. Red-headed Bill Car-
roll persisted in calling the witness Mr. Brown-ee, although
asked not to do so. ' Now, Mr. Brown-ee,' said Bill. Judge
Greene, with an extra e at the end of his name, interrupted Bill,
saying : ' The witness has told you his name is not Brown-ee,
but is B-r-o-w-n-e, Brown. Now, sir, my name is G-r-e-e-n-e;
would you call me Green-ee ? ' Bill scratched his red tufts a
moment and replied : ' That depends altogether, your honor, how
this case goes.' "

The day's exercise and social companionship revived Millyard
very much.

Galen Dalgal with his wife, two children and their servant
arrived in New Orleans and were met at the train by Louis.

In a few days the party departed in Millyard's private car
bound for the Pacific Coast to be absent two months or more.

As Prof. Alfred Wortman could not come to New Orleans at
that time, Millyard telegraphed him that he was off for Cali-
fornia and would return via Hickory.

A Waif in the World. 305

CHAPTER LI.

A WAIF IN THE WORLD.

Having made the tour of the Pacific Coast, Millyard and his
.party stopped over on their return at Denver. Mrs. Dalgal
was not well. She was languid and morose. Dalgal and Mill-
yard both thought her indisposition resulted from fatigue and
too much travel.

" I am sorry you are becoming so much fatigued, Madame
Dalgal," remarked Millyard when they were alone. " Had you
not better go to the ranch I bought in California and rest

awhile ? "

" No," she replied. "I prefer to return home. It continues to
grieve me to know that your wife grieved herself to death over
such unfounded suspicions."

" You should not think of that," retorted Millyard. " You
seem to have a wrong impression about her grief. It was not
as you imagine. It was a cause altogether different; a matter
entirely personal to herself. So you need not give yourself any
concern whatsoever on that score."

" She did so much to the contribution of your happiness,"
retorted Mrs. Dalgal, " and enabled you to be the instrument for
the happiness of Mr. Dalgal and his family, that I revere her
memory, and dwell with sorrow on her untimely death. She
was such a lovely, sweet woman. I shall never forget her,"

" You bring her memory back to me with sorrow."

" I have made a mistake ; I beg your pardon. I will not do
so again," she said. " Is your coach to be finished by the time
we s:et to Chicaeo ? "

" I hope so. But I shall have little use for it now. Though
I am anxious to see it."

At Chicago they went to Pullman and inspected the new coach.
It was promised to be forwarded to New Orleans in a few
20

306 The Lady of New Orleans.

weeks. Their stay in Chicago was brief, only two days. Their
departure for Hickory was hastened on account of Mrs. Dalgal's
increasing illness. Her condition was becoming a source of much
anxiety.

Arriving in Hickory, Mr. Millyard remained a couple of
days in order to see Professor Wortman, who came there.

The mines, Professor said, were holding out fairly well, but
not altogether as well as formerly.

Mrs. Dalgal became very sick was confined to bed and phy-
sicians were called. This had a very depressing effect on Mr.
Millyard. So he hurriedly departed for Atlanta, where he in-
tended to stop over to see his sister.

*******

Her life was sad ; her heart was deadened ; blighted by the
incidents of the past nine months. In her new home, Miss
Cecelia had surrounded herself with those pleasures and com-
forts that most conduced to her happiness, including two maiden
cousins. Miss Martha and Miss Jennie Aubryberry and a dear
old man. a life-long friend of the family, who had been bereft
of all his family and left alone in the world without much of
its comforts — Mr. Daniel S. Landon. The old man attended to
the business affairs of Miss Cecelia and acted as head of the
familv. Pie was allowed to supply his wants which were few,
out of her funds. In fact he was situated in every respect as
if he were her father, for he was much older than her father
would have been.

Miss Cecelia's friends and acquaintances visited her as ever
before and were always made welcome and as happy as possible
at her home ; though she never went out from home.

Long ago her condition had become such that she shut herself
out from the world, only to those of her coterie whom she chose
to visit her.

Rounding out the law of. nature, no difference what theorists
mav say to the contrary, in due course of time Miss Cecelia
Millyard was delivered of a female child. It was nearly black.
Only a tinge of yellow tint shaded the child's skin.

Martyrdom forcefully sealing itself upon a helpless young
woman, as remorseless in its clutch as the great anaconda en-
circling itself around the fragile form of a babe, crushed the
poor woman's heart still more and more, deeper and deeper, over

A Waif in the World. 307

and beyond the deadly sting of the outrage itself, when she was
informed and shown that her child, one to which she had given
birth, her first-born, was a negress in part, the full fruit of a
coal black, foully odorous negro.

Convulsing herself between heaven and earth ; despairing and
wailing ; wishing that she were dead and hoping yet to live ; sick
and in agony though she was, when the child was shown her,
in bitter anguish she wept, crying out in accents appalling in
pathos :

" Take it away ! Take it away ! I know it not ! "

It was the acme of the actions that roughly rip and tear
the tender chords by the roots from the heart. Mother! infant
child just born into the world, separate them then and there for-
ever and not by death? That were a theme that thickens and
sickens the more and more it is revolved in the mind.

Not one drop of milk for nourishment from her breast should
the child ever have. Nor should it lay in the same bed with her.

" Take it away ! Take it away ! I know it not ! " she appeal-
ingly repeated, with a slight gesture of her feeble hand.

Some sickly sentimental, sorrow-mocking persons might have
condemned the poor unfortunate girl. Her education, training
and environment were such that she would not under any cir-
cumstances claim condonement.

Ah, but think, are the words the purport of those that some
souls will hear in the great Judgment Day?

Under such extraordinary conditions what must have been
poor Cecelia's feelings? Try to put yourself in her place and
try to decide it for yourself by analysis? It cannot be done.
It is therefore invidious to proceed with a description of a
tortured soul under such extraordinary circumstances. The in-
nate yearnings of a mother for her offspring; blood of her
blood, flesh of her flesh, soul of her origin ; casting it out for-
ever ; because it came not of her choice, was not of her seeking,
but was a mongrel breed forced upon her by brutish, fiendish
force ; a child, a charge, that would forever harrow her life in
society, in the world, in her home, were a parting of the ways
that aroused every sensibility in human heart. The agonizing
mother no doubt felt all of the inward and outward horrors
of the situation.

The physicians in attendance gave it as their opinion that in

308 The Lady of New Orleans.

order to save the life of the mother, the child must not be brought
into her presence again. This decision was acted upon accord-
ingly.

Fortunately a mulatto woman in the neighborhood was fur-
nishing milk at the time, and she was easily prevailed upon for
a slight pecuniary consideration to take the child and nurse it.
This was arranged by Miss Cecelia's kind friends and neighbors.

Miss Cecelia was in a serious condition.

When Mr. Alpha Millyard arrived from Hickory on his way
back to New Orleans and found the situation thus, he was dis-
tressed beyond measure. Whatever else were his thoughts there
were some that would not down, try never so hard as he did to
force them down.

" Buddie, I am astounded ! That is awful ! My nephew and
niece part negro ! Thac is terrible ! Do the people all know it,
buddie? Is it generally known?" And then again:

" Buddie, why did she not inform you of the taint in her blood
before you were married? In that event, and you condoned her,
there could have been no fault to find by anyone."

These were the bitter words that preyed on Alpha Millyard's
mind. They gnawed at the vitals of his already over-wrought
heart and brain.

Miss Cecelia, lying in bed, had swooned, and anon was agitated
almost into convulsions at any mere suggestion or reference to
her child.

So without consulting her in the matter and without her
knowledge Mr. Millyard decided to send the child to a foundling
hospital in Boston, of which he had a friend at the head. He
thereupon telegraphed and arranged to that end.

The mulatto woman who had the child in charge and her
husband were provided with ample funds and despatched to
Boston with the baby girl, who was given the name of Lizette.

Some day when she becomes a grown woman there may be a
nice law suit, with one fine point at least, about her right to her
mother's name, if not to inheritjier mother's property.

Alpha Millyard remained at his sister's only two days, then
went on to New Orleans, sad, more despondent and heartbroken
than ever.

Euripides says : " The sorrow of yesterday is as nothing- ; that
of to-day is bearable ; but that of to-morrow is gigantic, because

A Waif in the World. 309

indistinct." The sorrows we have are not so bad as they might
have been. Still, after a little reflection, it will no doubt be per-
ceived that the sorrow of Alpha Millyard could never be ex-
ceeded in that line of cause. There is no case a counterpart or
parallel.

Miss Cecelia Millyard was now doomed to remain unmarried.
But why? Still, such was the case. Probably more because
she herself decreed it.

She settled down at home in seclusion for a sad. weary life;
a life of misery and sorrow ; a life in which the mind eats as
its prey the body and itself.

A week after Millyard's return to New Orleans he received a
telegram from Mr. Dalgal announcing the death of Mrs. Dalgal.

This was another sorrow-bringing blow to Millyard. His
Pacific trip had not produced evidences of any improvement in
his condition, and his physicians had already instructed him to
remain at home as much as possible. Still, no one there, not
even Delarue, knew of his great whelming griefs.

3io The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER LII.

A BRILLIANT MIND'S VAGARIES.

" The leaves are turning over," philosophised Millyard while
seated at his desk in his library late one afternoon, when it was
about Mr. Delarue's time for calling. ' We know what the
next page will reveal only as we can guess. But we have arrived
at the stage in the evolution and progress of the world where
scientists, those who are mathematicians, can calculate with cer-
tainty, barring war, famine and pestilence, and even making
allowances for all these, when the world will be fully populated,
the Bible tells us what this will bring about. The Scriptures
and prophecies will have hjsen fulfilled. Space in heaven is not
illimitable. Only the alloted portion there can go. Who are
they? Aye, there's the rub. None but the pure in heart, the
sins of those that are sinful, and they are all, are forgiven. There
is no further procreation, no crowding there."

Not knowing anyone was present or hearing him, and even
unmindful of it, Alpha arose from his desk and continued as he
paced the floor :

" Has not Saint John,
With pat, prophetic sportiveness, forestalled
That heaven offered Understanding's prize,
In having told the number of the beast
To be six hundred and three score and six?
But, since thyself, though once, canst never more
Be one of those odd hundred thousand saints,
Who were, on earth, with woman undefiled,
And shalt not mumble that new song, nor be
A hardv harper harping on thy harp.
But rather deemst, that if thv kind were made,
To trust for their eternitv such thus,
As there revealed, it would be better far,

A Brilliant Mind's Vagaries. 311

If man were such a saint, and, in his quit

Of procreation, made an end of man,

We shall reverse its parting bid, and say :

' Let him, who's filthy, purge his filthiness.'
" O, thou unpractical

Canst neither speculate, nor realize,

And being unconverted, never canst
' Convert what thou do'st own into applause !

Why be not by thy country's yeomen schooled?

They have, to fraction of a mill, upon

The slate of speculation ciphered out

The worth comparative of corn and pork

And then alacriously converted their grain

To living flesh and blood, when they perceive

That the proportion's scale inclines to swine.

If thou but heed, the counsel speaks itself ;

It is, that, relatively, thou compute

The market value of the books thou ownst,

And then the worth's increase, thy brain will gain

By being phosphorated with the food,

The fish and mutton head, to which thou mayst

Convert thy books.
51 I now own life, yet if I were endowed

With length of years, to be earth's oldest Man,

There comes the time when I must give it up,

And in exchange shall get, what Death may yield.

It now is night, and how, were I to die —

This very moment ? Then, what in the next ?

There lies the line, as narrow as a breath,

And yet as wide, as that Eternity !

I now am here, and in the body thus :

But where, and what, when ousted of this hold ?

Naught recks that nice incline, by which a soul

Is tossed to heaven, or slid down to hell ;

The Resurrection of the body, and

That Judgment Day ? What comfort do they give ?

What to ease do they answer make ?

" Where and what, the gap unknown, between

This certain present, and that doubtful Then ?

My soul, I cannot palter with thy quest? "

Walking the while up and down his chamber, at length along
the corridors of his spacious house, then halting in his library,
Millyard again meditated thus, aloud :

" O, God ! from that time when Man on Earth Thy Image was—
That time before his fabled Fall. —
O, Man ? from speculation turn thy spanding mind,
Let it not wreak nor wreck its own,

312 The Lady of New Orleans.

'Till of life's lore it has its fill.
O, Soul, palter not, yearn on, list not
Whether that Divinity fell with the Fall of Man
If thou art bodied still in that Image of thy God.

" I perceive I cannot trust myself. My mind is not its own.
It wanders in queer pastures where the graze for it is not the
best. I must quell it. Control it. Here I am in this house with
my dear boy and darling girl ; I must get a tutor for them at
once. Their mother gorwe*, their loving grandmother gone, and,
O my God ! how she went. Well, Mike, by Jove ! I am glad
you've come. My mind h«s beJ&n rurwiing wild, wild, yes, wild,
rioting with me. I need someone to read it the great English
riot act. Poetry, blank verse, everything ! of all sorts, and, some
that's not so blank, have been waging war in my aching head."
Delarue did not intend to disturb him, but Alpha chanced to get
in view where he was hiding.

;' I am glad I arrived at such opportune time," returned Mike.
" Gellius would have pronounced you a classic. Bang loose and
quote some more."

"That is the very thing I desire not to da" retorted Alpha.
" Gellius lived when classics were yet a name. I wish to keep
my mind unimpaired, as they say of the right of trial by jury.
Here I am one of the wealthy men of the world ; with enormous
investments and hundreds of millions of dollars in cash in banks
ready to invest and just as I have acquired it, and thought I was
ready to be happy, afflictions, Mike, yea, afflictions, I will not
raise Job's standard by comparing, have come upon me so
ponderous that their abode upon me bodes the dethronement of
my reason, and the leaving of my mind blanker than the verse.
Mind the only source of happiness. Dethrone it. Scour it in
the air and waft it oil the winds. Leave of me a scuttled wreck,
a wreck of misery. Have I sense enough to evolute an idea
if I had a confrontation with one of the iron-bound, iconoclastic,
ideal-shattering things in the middle of a cyclone in a sand
desert ? The evolution of a thought is a signboard to knowledge.
The evolution of an idea is the selection of the right road at the
parting of the roads on the way to the. Parish seat of learning;
and the evolution of the two at the confluent leads out on the
placid basin of Science, where Knowledge, Wisdom, Understand-
ing, Intuition, yea, Intuition, Discernment, Comprehension and

A Brilliant Mind's Vagaries. 313

Judgment form a circle, a coterie, a monopoly, a band of com-
panions whose combined capacity and practical philosophy dis-
cerns the dim but golden colored spot that flickers in the grand
panorama of Truth. Alive, some men are absolutely, or very
near, ridiculous, and, dead, are quite or completely disremembered.
Ah, me ! The sooner we die the sooner we get to Paradise,
Mike. But, I was just saying: I want a tutor for my children;
do you know of anyone? Get me a good man for the place
as soon as you can. He must come and live here. He will help
to keep my mind occupied ; cheer me up from despondency, the
glumps, the darling slumps. I prefer an elderly man ; some
bachelor college professor."

" I know the very man," responded Delarue, who had been
very quiet. " Professor Dimmetry. I will see him in the
morning."

" Cosmos? " cried Alpha. " The very man! A very Hercules
of a learned man. And a great friend of my wife and her
mother. Mike," began Millyard, confidingly, " if it should be-
come necessary that I take a little course in a private institution
for those afflicted such as myself I want you to manage my busi-
ness affairs for me. To that end I am coming to the bank in
the morning and make my power of attorney to you. Have
Goetchieus or Caldwell there to draw up the papers for me."

' Where do you get the poetry you were reciting a while ago? "
asked Mike, smiling

" Get it ? In the air. The air breeds it, if vou inhale it
aright."

It was after eleven o'clock when Delarue departed, leaving
Millyard much improved in spirits. The presence of Mr. Dela-
rue seemed ever to enliven him, and ooi this occasion it was very
perceptible.

314 The Lady of New Orleans.

CHAPTER LIII.

DELARUE HUMORING MILLYARD.

Next morning shortly after nine o'clock, Mr. Millyard arrived
at the bank, accompanied by De Ampbert and Mittie, with Sarah,
the maid.

" I am glad to see you down so soon, Alpha, and that you have
the children," said Delarue meeting them at the carriage. " Let
Louis take them up to the house to see my wife and the children."

Millyard was met by the cashier, Mr. Varnelle. and subse-
quently by all the clerks of the bank and the lawyers in cordial
greeting.

" Is it advisable for you to make your power of attorney at
present?" asked Judge Caldwell. "We have just been discuss-
ing the matter, and about come to the conclusion that you are
fully competent to attend to your own business ; even more so
than all of us put together."

" There, there, I am glad to hear you say that," exclaimed
Millyard, quickly. " I know then that I am competent to make
my power of attorney. Unsoundness of mind cannot be alleged
without being met with competent evidence to the contrary.
T will not submit to a guardianship only by Mike."

" We had concluded." said Delarue. " that it would be best
to wait awhile, because your business is so vast and in such em-
bryotic condition, just commenced consolidating railroads and so
forth, that you alone know what you want."

" Yes, that is it ; I know what I want," replied Alpha. " And
I know you can do it. after I tell you how. I shall make my
power of attorney now while I am competent to make it ; also
my will. Then I will leave the power of attorney in the keeping
of these two lawyers to be handed by them to you if I do become
incapable of conducting my business."

Delarue Humoring Millyard. 315

" That will do," said Goeticheus, " that covers the case."

" Sensible to the last," added Judge Caldwell.

The instrument under seal attested by a notary public giving
the full power of attorney of Alpha Millyard to Mike Delarue
without revocation until recovery of health and vigor, to manage
all of his business affairs the same as himself, was handed to the
lawyers. The will was also duly executed and deposited by Mill-
yard in one of his private vaults in the bank.

" Here is a telegram for you, Alpha," said Mike.

" Sign for me, Mike, and see who it is from." he replied.

" Mr. Alpha Millyard : Your private coach shipped to-day.
Letter by mail. (Signed) Pullman Palace Car Co."

" It will be here in three days," said Millyard. ' Then, as
soon as I can have it stocked with provisions and everything
necessary, and pack my trunks, Mike, you must go with me to
New York. I will take my children. Why do people persist
in saying shipped, when it is railed? Shipped is a misnomer."

" Here is another telegram for you," said Mike, " it is from
New York. ' Wire when you can be here. Important. (Signed)
Ferdenard Wolfe.' "

" He is one of my brokers," said Millyard. " Telegraph him
I cannot leave here until Monday. Wire me skeleton nature of
business."

The doctors advised Delarue not to let Mr. Millyard know any-
thing about business matters, but to humor his whims in all
things.

Mr. Millyard's combination sleeping coach and buffet arrived
in due time. His valet-butler and his French chef were put
in charge. They had everything necessary provided in all de-
partments by Monday morning, at which time the party, includ-
ing Mr. Delarue, left for New York.

Either grief and melancholia, or the maze of business in which
he engaged in New York, began to affect Millyard quickly and
seriously. Mr. Delarue discovered it at once and began arrang-
ing for a speedy return to New Orleans.

" I am arranging for us to leave here in the morning, Alpha,"
said Mike when they sat down for dinner at their hotel.

" Mike, I am about to buy a couple of pieces of property in
Broadway," Millyard responded after he had given his order for

316 The Lady of New Orleans.

dinner. " I am to examine the property in the morning and you
must go with me."'

" I thought you had all your business attended to? "

" Well, I would remain here longer were I not wearied," said
Alpha absentmindedly. " I have a good use for this property.
We can leave here in the afternoon ; if the lawyers report the
titles good I can attend to the matter from Xew Orleans."

"Why not go into a private sanitarium here, Alpha?" asked
Mike timidly. " I believe you would soon come round all
right."

" No," replied Alpha ; " if I do not remain in New Orleans I
shall go to Paris."

Louis and Sarah, having finished their dinner, sent for the
children. Millyard and Delarue remained at the table to sip
champagne or coffee.

" Alpha, I like your railroad scheme."

" I think I got those gentlemen to understand it," returned
Alpha. " If I did they need not again require me here ; at least
for several months. What do you think about that ? "

" That is my judgment," responded Delarue. " You told them
just exactly what you require to be done, and that if they do it
that way, and make Smith president and put me and one other
man from New Orleans on the board of directors, you would take
sixty-five millions of the bonds and twenty millions of the pre-
ferred stock at the prices named. Also, that possibly you would
take a large block of the common stock. There is nothing else
now for you to do or say in *he matter. Let them work it.
They are only too glad to do it in order to save themselves."

" I am of opinion they would have been willing to pledge me
a majority of the common at fifteen," said Alpha. " But I upset
that scheme by requiring that the bondholders should be allowed
to elect five directors and the preferred three and the common
stock one director, who shall hold the offices for only five years.
After which time the common shall have control and elect five
and the preferred four directors ; their term to be only one year
thenceforward. I think common will eventually go to thirty-
five, probably forty, but it will open on the market at about nine
or ten. It will be three or four years before common gets a
dividend. That is my reason for giving them control after five
years ; so the holders of common can work up to a dividend after

Delarue Humoring Millyard. 317

the others get it in physical condition. I would not submit to
a voting trust. They are ultra vires. Nor would I own stock
iii a company that is controlled by a voting trust. It is un-
American in principle, and places a man in the plight of being
without a voice in the control of his property."

" Alpha, you are all right; especially as long as you are talking
business," said Delarue. " It is only when you get off of busi-
ness matters that you are flighty, wandering and dejected."

" I know it, Mike ; these things are apparent to me as well
as to you. I feel them. But I hate business, it reacts on me. I
must look up something else to do when I get back to New
Orleans. I have in my mind the undertaking of writing a drama
or tragedy for the stage. The subject is founded upon, not
adapted from, the life of Aaron Burr."

" A famous subject. The greatest in American history. By
all means do it ! " exclaimed Delarue, enthusiastically ; not alone
to encourage Millyard, but because he believed it to be true.

" In the morning I will buy a copy of every book I can find
that has anything about Burr," said Alpha, " and read fully
everything about him the first thing; then I can go ahead and
write. Burr is the most maligned man in American history.
Thomas Jefferson's hand in it is not creditable, any more than
is Hamilton's."

After a stay of nearly two weeks the party left New York the
next afternoon bound for New Orleans. Delarue occasionally
enlivened Millyard by talking about his railroad schemes ; real
estate purchase in Broadway ; what would be the best to do with
it, and other matters.

Next morning Delarue had Louis get out the books about
Aaron Burr. Fortunately there was an alcove for books in the
coach ; in this the* books were placed. Then Millyard began
reading as they journeyed homeward. He seemed completely
absorbed in his new task.

Next day after arriving in New Orleans, Millyard repaired to
the bank and transacted an enormous amount of business. The
next day he did not appear outside of his residence. A week
hence and he had not been out. In fact he had seen no one
outside of his household, except Delarue, who called every even-
ing. His secretary, Emmett Erwin, was kept busy taking notes
and making extracts. Alpha's entire attention was devoted to

3i8 The Lady of New Orleans.

absorbing all he read about whom he called : " The great hounded
American man of Destiny, who missed by falsehood and over-
powering official weight being the greatest of them all."

During weeks and weeks Millyard continued thus. Melan-
cholia, the demon of unrest ; the father of sleepless nights and
dreaming days, morbidly held him as its own. Late one evening
in sheer despair he was pacing about his library room reciting:

" Peace ! I had more when I had none. Aye, nothing else ;
only ten cents. I can do but good or evil with all my wealth;
but do good I will, -it does me none. I need only enough for
my children ; just sufficient to make them happy without being
dependent. Ah. Plato! I say with Cato, you reasoned well
Else whence this disappointing hope and effervescing, boiling-
over woe? "

Mr. Erwin, his secretary, pretended to be writing, but he was
watching and listening to Mr. Millyard, who, continuing to pace,
went on :

" Evolved from Thought of God,
So near in make, His image is,
Man flush ush'd into this Earth,
The nursery of his biding hence,
And studying here in uncertain term,
Aware or heedless of his furthering in,
Urged or lured, the charm of life
In either cast., stalks boldly forth
And reasons 'bout the plans of God
As if he -were Maker too."

At that juncture Delarue. who had come in the house unan-
nounced, as usual, entered the library door and exclaimed :

"Heigh-ho! more poetry. I am glad to see you enjoying
yourself."

" Well, it is some relief, I admit," quickly retorted Millyard.
' But it is. that which produces the seeming enjoyment which I
dislike. T must get over it. under it. or out of it. I will tell
you, Mike, what I want : I want to be up at Johnnie's with you;
have ten dollars in my pocket, say, inside, and not know where
I could get another cent, unless from some man who owed me a
forty-dollar- fee and would not pay. Then I could banish dull
careand all else beside from my mind for a rare old time dis-
cussing the poets and repeating them word for word, and page

Delarue Humoring Millyard. 3*9

by page, for weeks at a time. I have plenty of everything to
drink, here in the house, Mike, but let's go up tq Johnnie's and
enjoy ourselves once more? I think it will take a weight off my
mind and cause my brain cells to link again, then I would feel
better, if I were not in fact."

" I will have to send my wife word," replied Mike.

Stepping into the hallway Millyard called Louis and told him
to tell the" coachman to bring out one of the carriages immedi-
ately. Then turning to Delarue he continued :

" Mike, sit down there and write your wife a note stating that
you will line with me this evening. I will send it to her by
the coachman while we are at Johnnie's."

" How is Colonel Aaron Burr ? " asked Delarue as he pro-
ceeded to write the note.

" I leave off the colonel," politely bowing, said Alpha. " Aaron
Burr, if you please, is getting along famously. Mike, he was the
most extraordinary man of America. The r lly other man who
can figure alongside of him in brains is Thomas Paine, whose
writings bearing for Independence I intend to have bound de
luxe in gold embossed with Hiddenite gems. I am now ready
to commence my Burr tragedy. It ought to be in five acts, but
I shall crowd it into four. I will have Mr. Erwin come and
live here in the house so he will be on hand that I may dictate
whenever the inspiration, or, as Byron called it, ' the estro strikes

me.' "

" Of course, that is the very idea. I am glad you will do
that," said Delarue, desiring to be as cheerful as possible, and
sincerely believing the scheme to be sufficient to soon restore
Millyard to his wonted self.

" Mike, I was reading a semi-sipid article in the magazine
there, by a Professor in a University, slurring at Ben Franklin.
The self-opinionated Professor of some sort of ology (Louis
calls the blacksmith who shoes my horses Professor), says
Franklin perverted the minds of the people of this country, and
that it will require several more generations, probably some
more Pofessors, like him, foreign educated, to eradicate the great
evil done by Franklin. Every man has a right to his opinion,
and has the right to express it, provided it is not in Kentucky
or Texas, sometimes Georgia, if it is unorthodox, but I am Ken-
tuckian enough, if not a Texan, to say : that fellow, he is a fellow,

320 The Lady of New Orleans.

if not of the Academy and only a Professor, I say, his relatives
and friends should take care of him tenderly, and feed him a
few seasons on fried mutton, boiled oysters, stewed fish and
rare, very rarely, broiled eels. The diet is said to be good for
many brain diseases."

End to Which we Come. 321

CHAPTER LIV.

END TO WHICH WE COME.

The two physically disproportioned gentlemen, Alpha Mill-
yard and Mike Delarue, one now portly, the other tall and slender,
the former recently having become thin and pallid, were tint long
in arriving at Johnnie's cafe. The coachman was despatched
with Delarue's note to his wife.

The original " Johnnie " being dead, his business was now con-
ducted by his son Johnnie, who was a medium sized young
gentleman ; fat, florid-faced and jolly ; married about two years ;
wife handsome, with rosy Irish-American cheeks ; proving her
Irish blood by her vivacity. Little Johnnie was invited to join
them ; which he did. They were seated at a table to themselves.

" I say, Johnnie Number Two, does this sort of shop suit your
taste and conserve to the tastes of your best and most valuable,
patrons?" inquired Millyard.

"No; it really does not," he answered. "For instance; such
gentlemen as you and Mr. Delarue are not afforded that kind
of privacy and liberty that you should enjoy."

" Would you change it? " demanded Millyard.

" Yes, I would have it much more elegant."

" Mike, buy this property for me to-morrow ; I will see that
it is not changed. I want this rendezvous of ours, wherein we
supped the sack in quietude, if in distressing, turbulent days, and
had our most joyous moments, continued in statue quo. I mean
this for sure. And Johnnie, as for you, what will you take for
yourself? I want to keep this shop just as it is for Mike and
myself."

" Mr. Millyard, I will do anything you say ; or anything I
imagine you want me to do, if Mr. Delarue will sanction it."
Even Johnnie knew his condition.
21

2,22 The Lady of New Orleans.

" My sanction and say so then is not sufficient ? " vehemently
said Millyard.

" O, I mean by that/' quickly responded little Johnnie, " you
and Mr. Delarue are so much jointly interested in this matter,
and he has so much your welfare at heart that I suppose it
would be necessary to have the approval of you both." This was
neatly said.

" Mike, he is a solid Muldoon. Suppose I buy the property
and give it to him, as a present? Provided, he will give us
lunches and champagne and 'af 'n 'af, as long as we live?"

" If you do that you shall never regret it," responded the
honest son of Erin and the original Johnnie.

" Mike, make the trade ; I will pay the money and sign the
papers."

" I shall be the proudest man in New Orleans," proclaimed
Johnnie ; " and Kate and my mother will come and kiss you."

Two days later Millyard paid the money for the property in
question, and then signed a deed conveying it to John McCrystal
in fee simple for one dollar in hand paid.'

Mr. Millyard had not been, out of his mansion since the even-
ing he was at Johnnie's with Delarue a week previous, when
just after dinner, while seated in his library, wthout being an-
nounced, a number of persons suddenly rushed in the room.
They were Mike Delarue, his wife, Johnnie McCrystal with his
handsome wife, Kate and Johnnie's mother.

Mr. Millyard was reclining in his easy chair, his two children
playing near ; Mr. Erwin at his desk, writing ; Louis, the valet,
sitting in a corner, while Sarah, the maid, and the two nurses,
were collecting an indiscriminate lot of playthings for children
in the adjoining room, as plainly could be seen through the open
folding door when they entered.

Mrs. Kate " Johnnie " McCrystal sprang upon Mr. Millyard
and commenced kissing him, saying:

" There, count that one a thousand and this one two thousand,
and this one three thousand. May the Lord bless you ! You are
such a good man ! "

"Gracious, Johnnie, is this your wife?" blurted Millyard,
during a lull. " By Jove! she's a kisser. And handsome? Yea,
very."

End to Which We Come. 323

" Kate, kiss him again for saying that," Johnnie exclaimed, as
he proceeded to hold Mr. Millyard in position for the perform-
ance.

Kate then administered several additional kisses.

" Johnnie,'' said Millyard, " her argument is good sound
logic. It is calculated to cure ills."

Meantime Mrs. Arrebelle Delarue was demonstrating consid-
erable hilarity. In the environs Mr. Mike Delarue apparently
endeavored to manipulate a jig with his body and arms without
the responsive proceedings on the part of his legs and feet. The
good old grey-haired, grey-whiskered doctor who was attending
Millyard, came in and stood stiff as a granite statue of George
Washington looking at what the politicians call the wreck of his
country. With arms akimbo, and gloriously inflated eyes, he at
length gently smiled. It was a picture.

The two little children of Mr. Millyard chattered French in
great glee. It seemed to be the general desire of those kind-
hearted people to make Mr. Millyard cheerful ; resurrect him
from the thrall of despondency which they knew was besieging
and about to engulf his mind.

" Mike," said Millyard, standing erect and looking Mike in
the eye, " and you ladies and gentlemen, my friends, which is at-
tested by your presence and this approved demonstration, have
arrived at the most opportune time for me. You have, seemingly
to me, precluded my last chance, as it were, to become the inmate
of an institution for persons who have over-much absorbed dull
care, and who have thereby somewhat lost control of the equi-
librium of their ambition, faculties "

" Now, Mr. Millyard," interjected Mrs. Delarue, " you
are " She was in turn interrupted by Millyard :

" My dear Madame Delarue, I see that you are misconstruing
the idea intended to be conveyed. You know ideas have sense in
them as well as grown folks. I do not claim to be able to attend
to my business affairs without the assistance of the sound, solid,
sensible advice of my wife. But you see, my wife is not any fur-
ther with me in this life ; she is gone. Yes, gone. And she is
not coming back. She caused me to promise that I would not
marrv agfain "

*■&'

' Yes, I know," interrupted Mrs. Delarue : " but it was under
limitations. You must not brood over that."

324 The Lady of New Orleans.

" Brood ? " he smiled sardonically, then went on : " Phi-losoph-
ically, as well as phil-osophically, speaking both ways, that may
be true. But, do you not also know that there are links in life
and hitching posts, as well as chas-ams and can-yons ? Turn but
a fibrous space and the whole future course is changed. You
may plunge into a rock-bottom gulf. Look at it for yourself.
My marital relations were far different from those of other
people. This fact has been forced on me not of my own seek-
ing. Bereft, so distressingly, peculiarly bereft, the manner and
method is what stings ; bereft, I say, of those two persons of all
other persons who afforded me comfort in life, I am left in such
condition that, although possessed of vast wealth, I have not that
solace so essential to happiness. In fact, I am tortured in mind.
Upon my soul, I believe I am an instrument of example to illus-
trate an evil that exists. If you ladies and gentlemen, my
friends, take upon yourselves to make it pleasant for me, strew
flowers in my path, my appreciation shall not be wanting in sub
stantial manifestation."

" Mr. Millyard," said Kate, the lovely and beautiful wife of
Johnnie, " you shall from this time forth have all the care and
attention that I can render. I want you to make Johnnie and
myself your servants, to do just anything you want done."

" Eh ? You hear that ? " asked' Johnnie. " Egad, that's the
law in our family. I told you she was boss."

" Do you perceive a method for me to extricate myself from
these dumps, these dumpling dumps, these darling dumps?
You do not know how I feel ? I feel like — not how he feels, but
how he looks, who is riding backwards on a substitute horse, a
ship of the desert, with a hump and a sliding rump, and who
himself has a hump on his back, the nature and feasibility of
which is to counterpoise or balance the hump-backed animal and
its load."

" What have we done ? Run for the gun ! " exclaimed Mike,
jumping behind the desk, adding : " Alpha, this is sort of a storm
party. You have heard of these cake festivals where a dollar
and a half lets you in and not a cent to go out? "

"Hear! hear!" exclamed Millyard. "You have inverted the
ratio. You mean nothing to go in and all you have to go out.
Sarah, tell the butler to bring in the wine room. As I was go-
ing to say — what was I going to say ? Shucks ! Am I that bad

End to Which We Come. 325

off? Or on? Or in? Or out? Excuse haste and a bad pen.
I might, would, or should have said :

Truth is old and meekly reverent ;
Novel error through all ages blooms ;
Man, for fabled hell ignores the real.

" Think of it," he went on. " Still— but let that pass, like the
procession. As you all know, I am no sycophantic or abusive
person. I say, as said Wolsey, so alleged: ' Be just ' — no, I will
not quote Wolsey. He was an old reprobate. Meanwhile I
may as well also submit and admit that it depends altogether
whether one's estimate and analysis of a reprobate be the correct
one. There is a squad of men on every corner. Some person
over there on the other corner may dispute the proposition, and
add that you are crazy. I would like to know what he knows
about it, and who is to decide his sanity. They say it takes a
thief to catch a thief. The chap turns round and makes the same
assertion about the other. Where is the jury? Are they peers?
It requires a peer to decide. Who is a peer to decide whether a
man has lost his mind or found another? Ah, Mike, if your
peer ever lived he undoubtedly took his record to the earthly mix-
ing of his corporeal remains and obliterated the entire phospho-
rated anatomical leavings from the ken of hazy succeeding men.
I have never been a ranchman, or cow-boy, but in the round up
of the people of the world I am wondering whether I will be
branded as a sheep or a goat and be passed to the right or to the
left."

During the few minutes in which it required Mr. Millyard to
deliver these desultory sentiments his guests were attentive lis-
teners. It can as well be imagined, as stated, that they were
amazed at the brilliant emanations, though vagaries, of his ex-
ceedingly brilliant brain. They " humored " him, if that word
conveys the idea in full. His mind by thoughts expressed seemed
to take a range that was wide.

Alpha Millyard was one of those peculiar individuals, the type
more easily and readily conceived than described. He was just
the same kind of man as the owner of several hundred million
dollars that he was when he loaned or gave the last ten cents he
possessed to a gentleman whom he had never met before, and
whose name he did not know. He was an American. It was in-

326 The Lady of New Orleans.

deed lamentable that the brilliant mind of such wide scope, philan-
thropic, with the ability now to give full swing to his philan-
thropy, should be wandering and seemingly fading into inco-
herency and intangibility, if even broader terms cannot be used.

There was, however, no madness, no absolute insanity, nor any
belligerent or destructive tendencies. But in such cases such is
often feared. However, did you ever note how easy it is to trace
weakmindedness in any person when special attention is directed
to him to that end ? It is easy to prove a person to be demented.
The other persons are such excellent judges.

The great reason for regret about Mr. Millyard was because
at the prime of life, even before his prime, and possessed of such
gigantic fortune, he should be disabled from pursuing to full
fruition the enormous schemes he had in mind which would have
been of such grand value to human kind. Schools, universities,
hospitals, abodes for the poor and infirm, railroads and steam-
ship lines, all were on the brink of being left only as a dream.
No executors or trustees could carry out his plans on the same
grand scale that he would. This seemed to be the opinion of
even Mike Delarue, who was no doubt made his sole executor.

One day, earlier than usual, Delarue called to see Millyard.
It was another sad mission. He had a letter. It informed Mr.
Millyard of the demise of Mr. Galen Dalgal. The letter of in-
formation contained the following as part of its contents :

" Only a short while before poor Mr. Dalgal died he made
these remarks : ' I had a talk with Alpha Millyard last night.
He told me they had just finished his big hospital, with which he
was delighted. He said the female university would be done
next year. He was having it hurried. Since he had the big
railroads consolidated and working nicely he was giving nearly
all his time to public institutions ; that they were giving him much
comfort.' Among the last words he said were : ' Alpha is
a great man, a genius, and is a blessing to the people of the
world.' We all knew that Mr. Dalgal had not seen you, as you
were not here. It was only one of his dreams."

:i Mike, to me that is a glorious letter," said Alpha. " Only
one of his dreams? Well, coming from Dalgal, it is a very
comforting dream to me. For this reason : although it an-
nounces the death of my dear friend Dalgal, he was a semi-
supernatural man, his dream about me indicates what I and my

End to Which We Come. 327

friends may hope for with certainty, my restoration to health and
reason. Dalgal's dreams always came true."

" May the good Lord grant its proving true in your case,
Alpha," said the noble-hearted Mike. " Judging from his dreams
in the past, and the statements in this letter, your complete re-
habilitation is only a question of time and proper attention. I
think myself you will get well in a few months, if you aid nature
by trying."

" I shall certainly do my best at trying. You and your good
wife and little Johnnie and his charming wife are making it very
pleasant for me. Besides, Louis and all the servants are helping
me wonderfully. I will make it. My children will do it. I
live for them."

Days were doubling into weeks. Instead of showing any signs
of improvement, Mr. Millyard was weakening, becoming thin
and gradually growing worse. At length he was a pitiable look-
ing man. Emaciated, with lusterless eyes and wandering mind,
he was apparently becoming a wreck.

Delarue was alarmed about him. His physicians held frequent
and lengthy consultations. Experts were called in to their aid.

Finally the condition of Alpha Millyard became such that the
physicians determined he could be better provided for and nursed
were he placed in the private sanitarium in the upper part of the
city. Arrangements were made to that end.

" Mike, I was afraid it would come to this. Have those lawyers
come here and let me have that power of attorney turned over
to you."

" I will have them here some time to-day," replied Delarue.
" You will remain here until to-morrow morning. I will stay
here to-night. I must now return to the bank. Here comes
Kate." Delarue departed.

" Ah, Kate, you are like a beam of sunshine after a hard spell
of rain. Just as punctual and fresh as a morning lark."

" I could not attend to my domestic affairs for thinking about
you, my good friend, Mr. Millyard," exclaimed Kate. " So I
just had to come right here at once and see how you are getting
on, and if you want anything.-'

" Well, Kate, little angel, somehow I always loved angels,
but you are not so little — the doctors have consulted. When they
consult you know something's up. And they decided that I must

328 The Lady of New Orleans.

go up town to the sanitarium, where I can get fresh air, expert
nursing and medical skill ; where they make a business of it and
are prepared to treat persons of my disabilities and infirmities.
Though, I must confess I do not see how there can be any im-
provement on you and Mrs. Delarue and my other friends and
my servants. But perhaps the methodical attention of the doc-
tors and trained nurses, the change, with fresh, pure air from
over the river, will bring me round all right."

' We can come to see you just the same at the sanitarium. I
will, and so will Johnnie. He told me to tell you to please come
up there and have a lunch. He has one preparing for you and
Mr. Delarue. Oh, some of the nicest oyster patties you ever
saw ! And quail on toast, broiled pompano, lobster and shrimps
and pompano salad, and a lot of things. I told him what to get.
And a beautiful slice of cold goose. I made the dressing for
the salads."

'" Kate, if I must say it, you are sweet. Sarah, tell Louis to
have the carriage brought out immediately. Kate, you are to go
with me."

" Of course," replied Kate, " I am going with you. I am do-
ing everything I can to make life pleasant for you."

" And I like you for it, Kate. We will go by the bank and get
Mr. Delarue. A good round at Johnnie's and I will be so much
better that the doctors may, like General Von Zinken, change
their minds about sending me to the sanitarium. You see, I do
not like to leave my children."

"That is bad. Can't you take them?"

' They tell me not. But if I have to remain any length of time
and cannot have my children with me, I shall rebel, raise Cain
from the dead, and build a sanitarium of my own."

Kate agreed with one of the doctors, who had just come, that
Mr. Millyard did not seem to be much hazy in mind, if any,
though the doctors said the attacks were sporadic.

They drove to the bank. The two lawyers were present. The
power of attorney was turned over to Mr. Delarue. Then Kate
and Delarue accompanied Millyard to Johnnie's cafe up-stairs.

Xext morning Mr. Millyard was in excellent condition. His
friends began to arrive before ten o'clock. First Mrs. Delarue
and her daughter. Then Kate and Johnnie, the doctors and the
lawyers. Mr. Delarue was there all night, but went to the bank

End to Which we Come. 329

and returned. The carriages were ready. De Ampbert and
Mittie were taken in the victoria with their father and Mr De-
larue. The others were in carriages provided for them. Adieux
were exchanged with his servants, except Louis, who went with
him. The procession moved forward on its singularly sad
mission.

In due time the party arrived at the private asylum and entered
the office.

As Mr. Millyard clasped his children in his arms to kiss them
good-by tears came to his eyes. Then there was a symposium
of boo-hoohs and mild-mannered sobs. Kate broke the sad scene
by exclaiming :

" Well, I am going to see if things are fixed comfortably for
him. Show me his apartments."

" Yes, I wish to see them also," added Mrs. Delarue.

Then they were all shown, with Mr. Millyard, to his apart-
ments— five rooms on the south-east corner, overlooking the great
Mississippi river, over the tops of the houses, a quarter of a
mile distant.

He was to be placed on a diet of goat milk, goat meat, oat
meal, rye bread and fish. He was also to be restricted to a sys-
tematic course of conversation on certain subjects to be ascer-
tained as he progressed ; that is, to train his mind, as it were,
dc novo. This the management regarded as the most essential
feature of treatment.

" Before we part, Mr. Millyard," said Mrs. Delarue, " if I am
not asking you a question that is improper, or one you care not
to answer, please tell me the nature of the other bereavement you
have. You spoke of being so distressingly peculiarlv bereft of
those two persons of all others who afforded you comfort."

" Ah ! " he exclamed, at the same time raging in a passion.
' Take it away ! Take it away ! I know it not ! Ah, dear Ce-
celia was a lovely sister ; but, oh, my mother, my mother, how
she went ! Would to God the black fiend had been turned to a
pillar of salt before he saw her ! And the other brute, too. My
dear mother dead and my sweet sister ruined for life. Oh, take
it away ! take it away ! I know it not ! " Millyard sank down in
a large plush chair in distressing agitation.

Mrs. Delarue whispered to the others. She said :

" There must something terrible have happened to his mother

330

The Lady of New Orleans.

and his sister, the grief for which, added to the grief for his wife,
has stunned his mind."

At this their faces were blanched. They could not divine the
other cause for his grief.

As the hand of each in turn were shaken, his friends gradually
withdrew, while Alpha Millyard turned his head and gazed out
through the corner bay window facing up and down the crescent
in the great river.

Slowly turning his face toward his departing friends and
children, he beheld Mr. Delarue's head poking slyly round the
open door at him. Mr. Millyard waved his hand gently and
cried :

" Mike, Bertah vos too smart fur dot.''